Optics

Question 1

Translucent

Answer 1

allowing light, but not detailed shapes, to pass through; semi-transparent

Question 2

Opaque

Answer 2

not able to be seen through; not transparent

Question 3

Transparent

Answer 3

allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen

Question 4

Umbra

Answer 4

the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object

Question 5

Penumbra

Answer 5

a region of lighter shadow around the darkest part of a shadow

Question 6

Bioluminescence

Answer 6

A living organism that produces its own light through chemiluminescence

• firefly
• algae
• glow worm

Question 7

Chemiluminescence

Answer 7

The emission of light during a chemical reaction which doesn’t produce significant amounts of heat

AKA cold light

• glow sticks
• forensics

Question 8

Will refraction always occur when light travels from one medium to another?

Answer 8

No, only if the incident ray strikes from an angle that is not zero, and the indices of refraction in the 2 mediums are different. Total internal reflection may occur if travelling from more dense medium to less dense (like from water to air))

Question 9

Incandescence

Answer 9

The emission of visible light from a substance or object as a result of heating it to a high temp

Question 10

Fluorescence

Answer 10

Light that is caused by the absorption of radiation

Ceases almost at once when the incident radiation stops

Question 11

Phosphorescence

Answer 11

Light that is caused by the absorption of radiation

Continues for a noticeable time after these radiations have stopped

Question 12

Triboluminescence

Answer 12

Light is generated when a material is mechanically ripped apart, pulled apart, scratched, crushed, or rubbed

Question 13

Electric Discharge

Answer 13

The release and transmission of electricity in an applied electric field through a medium such as a gas

Question 14

What does L.A.S.E.R. stand for

Answer 14

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

Question 15

Whats a laser

Answer 15

A device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation

Question 16

What’s the difference between phosphorescence and fluorescence

Answer 16

Fluorescence ceases immediately after the radiation has stopped

Phosphorescence continues for a noticeable time after the radiations have stopped

Question 17

Types of reflection

Answer 17

Specular: Reflection from a mirror-like surface, parallel rays all bounce off at the same angle

Diffuse: Reflection on rough surfaces that cause reflection to travel in different directions

Question 18

Does a side view mirror use a convex or concave mirror?

Answer 18

Convex

Question 19

Electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 19

the classification of electromagnetic waves by energy

Question 20

Does a satellite use convex or concave mirror

Answer 20

Concave

Question 21

Will the image size of an object in a plane mirror change as you move further away from the mirror?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

You cast a shadow on the ground because your body is blocking the reflected light rays that would usually strike there

Answer 22

False. Shadows are formed by blocking incident light, not reflected light

Question 23

If the reflected image is inverted, will the height of the image be positive or negative

Answer 23

Negative.Z

Question 24

When the speed decreases in a material (less dense to more dense; air to water) which way does light bend?

Answer 24

TOWARDS THE NORMAL

Question 25

Which way does light bend when the speed increases in a material (diamond to water)

Answer 25

AWAY FROM THE NORMAL

Question 26

Why does refraction take place>

Answer 26

Because light changes speed when it moves from one medium to another

Question 27

If given the speed in a certain medium how do you find the that mediums index of refractions

Answer 27

divide speed of light in a vacuum/speed of light in that medium

Question 28

If given an index of refraction, how to solve for the speed of light in that medium

Answer 28

divide speed of light in a vacuum/ the index of refraction

Question 29

what is the scientific name for near-sightedness?

Answer 29

Myopia

Question 30

How to correct myopia

Answer 30

With a diverging lens/ negative meniscus

Question 31

What is the scientific name for far-sightedness, and how is it corrected

Answer 31

Hyperopia; Converging lens and positive meniscus

Question 32

Explain the difference between a concave mirror and a concave lens

Answer 32

A concave mirror is converging, but a concave lens is diverging

Question 33

The image of an object in a concave lens is always..

Answer 33

Virtual and small

Question 34

What is total internal reflection

Answer 34

the situation when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle and all the light reflected back into the first medium.

Question 35

What is the critical angle

Answer 35

The angle of incidence that results in a n angle of refraction 90 degrees

Question 36

What is the pupil and what is it’s function

Answer 36

The black opening in the iris; the pupil gets bigger or smaller in response to changes in light. muscles in the iris control the size of the pupil

Question 37

What is the cornea and what is its function

Answer 37

The transparent part of the eye that covers the front portion of the eye; its main function is to refract light. its responsible for focusing most of the light that enters the eye

Question 38

What is the colored part of your eye called.

Answer 38

The iris.

Question 39

What is the eye lens and what is its function

Answer 39

The lens is a nearly transparent biconvex structure behind the iris; the sole function of the lens is to focus light rays onto the retina.

Question 40

What is the retina and what is its function

Answer 40

The retina is a key bridge between the light that enters your eyes and the images you see. Special cells in your retina react to light and pass signals to your brain that lets you see.

Question 41

the angle of incidence is ___________ the angle of refraction when going from a less dense medium to a more dense medium (greater than or less than)

Answer 41

greater than

Question 42

the index of refraction _____________ as the speed of light in a medium increases (increases or decreases)

Answer 42

Decreases

Question 43

When you are standing by a pond at sunset, what happens to most of the light encountering the pond

Answer 43

It is reflected

Question 45

What is a mirage and why is it caused

Answer 45

a virtual image that forms as a result of refraction and total internal reflection in earths atmosphere