Unit 4 - Refraction #2

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in its speed.

Front

What is the index of refraction?

Back

The index of refraction (n) is a dimensionless number that describes how fast light travels in a medium compared to its speed in a vacuum. It is calculated as n = c/v, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and v is the speed of light in the medium.

Front

What happens to the angle of refraction when light moves from a denser medium to a less dense medium?

Back

The angle of refraction is greater than the angle of incidence when light moves from a denser medium to a less dense medium.

Front

What is Snell's Law?

Back

Snell's Law relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the indices of refraction of the two media: n1 * sin(θ1) = n2 * sin(θ2).

Front

If the index of refraction of air is approximately 1.0 and that of glass is about 1.5, what can be inferred about the speed of light in glass compared to air?

Back

Light travels slower in glass than in air because glass has a higher index of refraction.

Front

What is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction when light enters a medium with a higher index of refraction?

Back

The angle of refraction is less than the angle of incidence when light enters a medium with a higher index of refraction.

Front

Define optical density.

Back

Optical density is a measure of how much a medium can slow down light compared to a vacuum. A higher optical density means light travels slower in that medium.

Front

What is total internal reflection?

Back

Total internal reflection occurs when light attempts to move from a denser medium to a less dense medium at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing it to reflect entirely back into the denser medium.

Front

What is the critical angle?

Back

The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs when light travels from a denser to a less dense medium.

Front

How does the angle of incidence affect the angle of refraction?

Back

As the angle of incidence increases, the angle of refraction also increases, but the relationship depends on the indices of refraction of the two media.