Light wave intro

Fill in the blank:

In the late 17th century a debate raged among scientists about the nature of light. One group considered light as waves, one group considered light as ______

Sir Isaac Newton supported the _____ of light.

• wave model

• particle model

Christiaan Huygens supported the _____ of light.

• wave model

• particle model

Huygens’ principle states that each point on a wavefront can be considered as a source of secondary wavelets (i.e. small waves)

• True

• False

Refraction of light can occur when light passes from one medium to another medium.

• True

• False

Fill in the blank:

Refraction is a change in the _____ of light caused by changes in its speed

When a light ray passes into a medium in which it travels more slowly, it is refracted _____ the normal.

• towards

• away from

Light speed in vacuum is 3x10^8 m/s. Light speed in one medium is 2x10^8 m/s. What is the refractive index of that medium?

The refractive index of diamond is

• 1

• 1.33

• 1.5

• 2.42

• 100

During refraction of light, when the angle of incidence decreases, the angle of refraction _____

• decreases

• increases

• has no change