Reflection and Refraction Notes

Law of Reflection

Diffused Reflection

Microscopic View of an Uneven Surface

How large a mirror does one need to see ones whole face? o: object i: image

Object size, ho = Image size, hi

Object distance, do = Image distance, di for a plane mirror

Answer: You only need a mirror the length of your face. Law of Refraction When light travels from one medium to another with a different refractive index, n, the light ray travels with a different speed and so it changes direction. A Model

Refractive index, n, indicates how quickly light travels in that mediumlarger n = slower ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Example: Determine the angle of refraction as light travels form glass into water with an angle of incidence of 20.0.

d ( ( ( ) ) ) ( )

A similar result happens for light rays:

Where does the hunter aim his spear if the fish appears as it is shown?

Answer: The hunter should aim his spear at C, because the light reflecting off of the fish is refracted as shown below. Our eyes perceive light as travelling in straight lines, so the fish appears to be at B even though it is really at C.

Questions on Refraction Light is incident on a glass prism (n = 1.50) and the incident angle, i is 35. Determine a) the angle of refraction, r at A. b) the angle of incidence, i at B. c) the angle of refraction, r at B. (nair = 1.0003) a) At A:

b) At B: c) at B:

Critical Angle and Total Internal Reflection

Question: Determine the critical angle for water (nwater = 1.33, nair = 1.00).

Glass or Diamond? nair = 1.00 nglass = 1.50 ndiamond = 2.42 A diamond sparkles more as the light reflects internally more than glass does. Different colours have slightly different refractive indices and thus, a spectrum of colour is often refracted out of the diamond - dispersion. What is a mirage?

Since we always see light rays travelling in straight linesThe sun and clouds appear as a reflection as though there is some water on the ground. This illusion is called a MIRAGE. How is a rainbow formed? Read up about it.