notes

Reflection

- Light waves : electromagnetic waves that travel in a vacuum with a speed of 3x10^8 m/s

A Luminous object : gives out light and can be called a light source
. Light travels directly to your eye in a straight line

A Non-luminous object : objects that do not give out light

. Light from a light source strikes the book and some of the light bounces off and is reflected into your eye

Most surfaces are uneven or contain particles that scatter light . As a result , they reflect light in all directions or
diffuse
While mirrors are smooth resulting in a regular reflection
Transparent materials allow light to pass through them , they transmit light

- Features of light :

Light is a form of radiation : meaning it radiates (spreads out) from its source , rays are used to show
which direction light is moving
Light travels in straight lines : as seen in daily sunbeams , so it can produce shadows and inverted
images
Light transfers energy : Its needed to produce light , materials gain energy when they absorb light such as
solar cells that use enrgy from sunlight to generate electricity
Light travels as waves : light radiates from its source as ripples of tiny ,vibraiting , electric and magnetic
forces , They can be diffracted although they are usually small effects that are best described as tiny "
energy particles " called photons
Light can travel through empty space : the electric and magnetic ripples do not need a material to
pass/travel through which is why light can reach us from the sun .
 Light is the fastest thing there is : In a vacuum ( space ex ) the speed of light is 300,000 km/s , its about 1
million times greater than sound

Wavelength and color :

When light enters the eye , the brain senses different wavelengths as different colors . They range from 0.0004
mm ( violet light ) to 0.0007 mm (red light ) , white oflight is made up of all the wavelengths in this range .
Lasers emit light of a single wavelength and color
( monochromatic light ) .

Shadows :
An opaque object or material in the path of the rays of light , the opaque material does not let light pass through
it . The light rays that go past the edges of the material make an outline for the shadow . ( SH are formed when
an opaque object is placed in the path of light )

- Law of reflection :

1. Angle of incidence (i) = Angle of reflection (r)

2. Incident ray , reflected ray , and normal all lie on the same plane

This law of reflection is used in many devices such as : mirrors , cameras , optical fibres , periscopes .

- Ray diagrams :
They explain how light travels during reflection so you can see the image of an object inside the mirror .

A normal line is drawn at the right angle between the two media
Angles are measured between the rays

!! - Incident ray has an arrow pointing towards the boundary .

!! - Reflected ray has an arrow pointing away from the boundary .
- Reflection in a plane mirror (flat , smooth , polished surface) :

The image of the object that can be seen will be :

The same size as the object

Have the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it
Virtual : because it has extensions , no natural intersection
Laterally inverted : left to right , + vice versa
Erect : upright , not upside down

The distance between the object and mirror must be equal the distance between the image and mirror

Scientifically speaking , there shouldn be no parallax ( no relative movement )

between the object and image when you change your viewing position , if there is then they are not in the same
position .
(?) How is a real image different from a virtual image ?
Real image :

1. Can be displayed ( captured ) on a screen , like an image on a projector

2. Formed by intersection of real rays , not their extensions

Virtual image :

1. Cannot be captured on a screen , like the image formed by the mirror

2. Formed by the intersection of extended real rays , not real rays themselves

Refraction
It is the bending of light when light passes from one medium to another , occurs when light passes a boundary
between two different transparent materials

(imp?) When light pass between two different mediums two angles are formed :
- Angle of incidence
- Angle of refraction

At the boundary , the rays of light change direction depending on the difference in density between the two
media :

Less dense ( rarer ) to more dense [ Fast to slow ] , light bends towards the normal , therefore the angle (i)
is greater than angle (r)
More dense to less dense ( rarer ) [ Slow to fast ] , light bends away from the normal , therefore the angle
(i) is smaller than angle (r)
When a light ray falls perpendicular to the surface , it passes undeviated because (i)=(rf)=0

- This change in direction occurs due to the change of speed (!)

The properties that change are speed and wavelength and are directly proportional , the frequency does not
change because different frequencies account for different colours and when light refracts it does not change
colours therefore frq does not change

(?) Why does an object placed in water appear less deep then it really is ?
: This is due to refraction of light , because of the apparent depth ??

Formula of refractive index in the ratio of speeds :

Some commen refractive index values are :

- Diamond : 2.42
- Glass ( Crown ) : 1.52
- Acrylic plastic : 1.49
- Water : 1.33
- Kerosene : 1.44
- Air : 1.0003
- Turpentine oil : 1.47

The medium with the highest refractive index has the greatest bending effect because it slows light the most ,
meaning that as the refractive index increases- the light ray moves closer towards the normal , since speed is
decreasing as will wavelength and wavespeed , so angle (r) is smaller .

It has no units because its a ratio between two speeds , so the units are cancelled together

Another formula for the ratio of angles :

Critical angle : is the angle of (i) from a denser medium that cause angle of (r) at 90 degrees

Total internal reflection : occurs when all the incident ray in medium 1 is reflected back into the medium , it
happens when the angle of (i) is bigger than the critical angle / when all rays are refracted into the denser
medium and i > c