Refraction Flashcard

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 happens to light when it travels from a higher index of refraction to a lower index of refraction?

Back

Light bends away from the normal.

Front

What is the normal line in the context of refraction?

Back

The normal line is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.

Front

What is the angle of incidence?

Back

The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident ray and the normal line.

Front

What is the angle of refraction?

Back

The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal line.

Front

What happens to light when it moves from air into water?

Back

The light slows down and bends towards the normal.

Front

What is the index of refraction?

Back

The index of refraction is a measure of how much light slows down in a medium compared to its speed in a vacuum.

Front

What is total internal reflection?

Back

Total internal reflection occurs when light hits a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing it to reflect entirely back into the medium.

Front

What is the critical angle?

Back

The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

Front

What is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?

Back

The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.