Physics and Math Chapter 8: Light and Optics

Question 1

Electromagnetic waves

Answer 1

transverse waves that consist of an oscillating electric field and an oscillating magnetic field. (perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation of the wave)

Question 2

Electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 2

the range of frequencies and wavelengths found in EM waves.

Question 3

EM spectrum from lowest to highest energy

Answer 3

radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma-rays

Question 4

Visible spectrum

Answer 4

runs from violet (400nm) to red (700 nm)

Question 5

Reflection

Answer 5

the rebounding of incident light waves at the boundary of a medium

Question 6

Law of reflection

Answer 6

states that the incident angle will equal the angle of reflection, as measured from the normal.

Question 7

Spherical mirrors

Answer 7

have centers and radii of curvature as well as focal points

Question 8

Concave mirrors

Answer 8

Are converging systems and can produce real, inverted images or virtual, upright images, depending on the placement of the object relative to the focus.

Question 9

Convex mirrors

Answer 9

diverging systems and will only produce, virtual, upright images

Question 10

Plane mirrors

Answer 10

Also produce virtual, upright images; these images are always the same size as the object. They may be thought of as spherical mirrors with infinite radii of curvature.

Question 11

Refraction

Answer 11

the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.

Question 12

The speed of light changes depending on:

Answer 12

index of refraction of the medium. This speed change causes refraction.

Question 13

The amount of refraction depends on:

Answer 13

the wavelength of the light involved; this behavior causes dispersion of light through a prism.

Question 14

Snell’s law (the law of refraction)

Answer 14

States that there is an inverse relationship between the index of refraction and the sine of the angle of refraction (measured from the normal)

Question 15

Total internal reflection

Answer 15

occurs when light cannot be refracted out of a medium and is instead reflected back inside the medium. (happens when light moves from higher index of refraction to a medium with a lower index of refraction)

Question 16

Critical angle

Answer 16

the minimum incident angle at which total internal reflection occurs

Question 17

Lenses

Answer 17

refract light to form images of objects.

Question 18

Thin symmetrical lenses

Answer 18

have focal points on each side

Question 19

Convex lenses

Answer 19

converging systems can produce real, inverted images or virtual upright images

Question 20

Concave lenses

Answer 20

are diverging systems and will only produce virtual, upright images.

Question 21

Lensmaker’s equation

Answer 21

used for lenses with non-negligible thickness

Question 22

Diffraction

Answer 22

the bending and spreading out of light waves as they pass through a narrow slit.

Question 23

What can diffraction occur?

Answer 23

the bending and spreading out of light waves as they pass through a narrow slit

Question 24

Interference

Answer 24

supports the wave theory of light

Question 25

Young’s double-slit experiment

Answer 25

shows the constructive and destructive interference of waves that occur as light passes through parallel slits, resulting in minima (dark fringes) and maxima (bright fringes) of intensity

Question 26

Plane-polarized light

Answer 26

all of the light rays have electric fields with parallel orientation

Question 27

polarizer

Answer 27

creates plan-polarized light when unpolarized light is passed through

Question 28

Circularly polarized light

Answer 28

all of the light rays have electric fields with equal intensity, but constantly rotating direction.

Question 29

Circularly polarized light

Answer 29

created by exposing unpolarized light to special pigments or fibers