Lesson 1462 of 1524
The Nature of Light
The part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light is called geometric optics
Practice this chapterThe part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light is called geometric optics The index of refraction of a material is n = c / v , where v is the speed of light in a material and c is the speed of light in a vacuum
The ray model of light describes the path of light as straight lines. When a light ray strikes a smooth surface, the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence
refraction — changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter. geometric optics — part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light. ray — straight line that originates at some point. Brewster’s law — tan θ b = n 2 n 1 , where n 1 is the medium in which the incident and reflected light travel and n 2 is the index of refraction of the medium that forms the interface that….
Worked example
What does “refraction” mean in The Nature of Light?
- 1Use the wording this chapter gives for refraction.
- 2The book says: changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter.
- 3Do not use the meaning of geometric optics. That term means part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light.
Result: changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter
Why. That is the meaning this chapter gives for refraction.
Do not swap refraction and geometric optics. refraction means changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter. geometric optics means part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light.
Practice margin
This chapter
A fresh set from this chapter only. Choose 10 or 20. Multiple choice and fill-in, with no repeat inside the set.