Refraction and Lenses

Front

Refraction Noun

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[ree-frak-shun]

Back

Refraction

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The change in direction of a wave as it changes speed when moving from one medium to another.

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Example: Light bends when it enters water from air, changing direction due to speed change.

Front

Medium Noun

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[mee-dee-um]

Back

Medium

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A substance, such as air, glass, or water, through which a wave can travel and be transmitted.

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Example: Light bends when it passes from air into water, showing how a medium affects wave direction.

Front

Virtual Image Noun

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[vur-choo-ul im-ij]

Back

Virtual Image

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An image that forms where light rays appear to originate but do not actually converge or meet.

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Example: Light rays reflect off a mirror, creating a virtual image that appears behind the mirror.

Front

Index of Refraction Noun

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[in-deks uv ree-frak-shun]

Back

Index of Refraction

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A measurement of how much a transparent material slows down the speed of light passing through it.

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Example: Light bends when it moves from air to water, showing how materials slow down light.

Front

Normal Noun

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[nor-mul]

Back

Normal

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An imaginary line drawn perpendicular to a surface at the point where a light ray strikes it.

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Example: The image shows a light ray hitting a mirror, with a 'normal' line perpendicular to the surface, illustrating reflection.

Front

Lens Noun

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[lenz]

Back

Lens

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A transparent object, with at least one curved side, that refracts light to form an image.

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Example: The image shows how eyeglass lenses refract light to focus it on the eye.

Front

Convex Lens Noun

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[kon-veks lenz]

Back

Convex Lens

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A lens that is thicker in the middle and causes parallel light rays to come together, or converge.

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Example: A convex lens focuses parallel light rays to a single point, demonstrating convergence.

Front

Converge Verb

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[kun-vurj]

Back

Converge

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To come together or meet at a single, common point, such as light rays through a lens.

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Example: Light rays passing through a lens converge at a focal point, demonstrating how lenses focus light.

Front

Real Image Noun

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[reel im-ij]

Back

Real Image

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An image formed at a point where light rays actually meet and can be projected onto a screen.

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Example: Light rays from an object converge at a point to form a real image in front of a concave mirror.

Front

Concave Lens Noun

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[kon-kayv lenz]

Back

Concave Lens

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A lens that is thinner in the middle and causes parallel light rays to spread apart, or diverge.

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Example: The image shows how a concave lens in glasses diverges light rays to focus them on the retina.