Light Flashcards
(17 cards)
Angle of incidence
The angle between the incident ray and the normal
Angle of reflection
The angle between the reflected ray and the normal
Angle of refraction
The angle between the refracted ray and the normal
Critical angle
The angle of incidence when the refracted ray is at 90° to the normal
Diffuse reflection
When light is reflected off a rough surface. Light is scattered from diffuse reflection
Incident ray
The ray of light strikes a surface. The incoming ray of light
Lateral inversion
The reversal of the mirror image from left to right. Image in mirror as been flipped laterally
Law of reflection
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
Normal
A line which is perpendicular to a mirror or reflective surface
Plane mirror
A smooth flat surface which reflect light
Reflected ray
A ray of light which has been reflected off a surface
Refracted ray
A ray of light that has been refracted as it passes through a different substance with a different density
Refraction
The bending of light as it travels from one substance to another. Refraction occurs as light travels through different substances or mediums at different speeds. Occurs when light passes through a different substance at an angle. When light travels from a substance with a higher refractive index(higher density) to a lower refractive index(lower density), light refracts or bends away from the normal, vise versa
Refractive index
A number which indicates the density of a substance. Measured by speed of light in vacuum divided by speed of light in substance
Regular reflection
When a light ray is reflected off a smooth flat surface, the angle of incidence will equal the angle of reflection.
Total internal reflection
When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle. This causes light to reflect instead of refraction through to the next medium.
Virtual image
A virtual image is produced when rays of light reach our eyes that appear to come from a real object, but there is in fact no object at the apparent source of the light. The most common example is when light from an object strikes a simple plane mirror
