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What is the effect of light entering a medium with a higher index of refraction?
The light slows down and bends towards the normal.
What is the effect of light entering a medium with a lower index of refraction?
The light speeds up and bends away from the normal.
What happens when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle?
Total internal reflection occurs; the light is completely reflected back into the original medium.
What is the effect of a rough surface on reflection?
Diffuse reflection occurs, scattering light in many directions.
What is the effect of increasing the angle of incidence when light travels from a higher to a lower index of refraction?
The angle of refraction increases until it reaches 90 degrees (critical angle), beyond which total internal reflection occurs.
What is Reflection?
The bouncing back of light when it strikes a surface.
What is Refraction?
The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
What is Absorption?
The conversion of light into another form of energy, usually heat, when it encounters a medium.
What is the Index of Refraction (n)?
A measure of how much light slows down in a medium, defined as \(n = \frac{c}{v}\), where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the speed of light in the medium.
What is Total Internal Reflection (TIR)?
The phenomenon where light is completely reflected back into the original medium when it travels from a medium with a higher index of refraction to one with a lower index of refraction, and the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.
Define the 'critical angle'.
The angle of incidence at which the angle of refraction is 90 degrees, beyond which total internal reflection occurs.
What are the differences between Specular and Diffuse Reflection?
Specular Reflection: Occurs on smooth surfaces, preserves the image, orderly reflection. Diffuse Reflection: Occurs on rough surfaces, scatters light in many directions, no clear image.
What are the differences between Reflection and Refraction?
Reflection: Light bounces off a surface. Refraction: Light bends as it passes through a medium.
How do Refraction and Total Internal Reflection differ?
Refraction: Light bends and passes through a medium. Total Internal Reflection: Light is completely reflected within the original medium.
What is the difference between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction?
Angle of Incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal line. Angle of Refraction: The angle between the refracted ray and the normal line.
Compare and contrast the behavior of light when n₂ > n₁ versus n₂ < n₁ during refraction.
n₂ > n₁: Light bends towards the normal, speed decreases. n₂ < n₁: Light bends away from the normal, speed increases.