Refraction

Front

What happens to light as it enters a medium with a higher refractive index?

Back

Light bends toward the normal.

Front

What is the refractive index of a medium?

Back

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

Front

What is the formula for calculating the refractive index (n)?

Back

n = c/v, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and v is the speed of light in the medium.

Front

When light passes from a medium with a lower refractive index to one with a higher refractive index, how does it behave?

Back

It bends toward the normal.

Front

What is the refractive index of a vacuum?

Back

The refractive index of a vacuum is 1.

Front

If the speed of light in a medium is greater than in a vacuum, what can be said about its refractive index?

Back

The refractive index is less than 1.

Front

What does a higher refractive index indicate about a medium?

Back

It indicates that light travels slower in that medium.

Front

What is total internal reflection?

Back

Total internal reflection occurs when light attempts to move from a medium with a higher refractive index to one with a lower refractive index at an angle greater than the critical angle.

Front

What is the critical angle?

Back

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

Front

How does the angle of incidence relate to the angle of refraction?

Back

According to Snell's Law, n1 * sin(θ1) = n2 * sin(θ2), where n is the refractive index and θ is the angle.