Refraction

Question 1

what is refraction?

Answer 1

the change in light speed from one medium to another

Question 2

refractive index

Answer 2

measures the effect a medium has on light

Question 3

greater refractive index means..

Answer 3

the angle of refraction will be smaller in the medium

Question 4

value of refractive index

Answer 4

always greater than or equal to 1

Question 5

refractive index equation

Answer 5

n=sin theta a / sin theta m

Question 6

refractive index equation for velocity and wavenlength

Answer 6

n = va/vm = lambda a / lambda m

Question 7

what happens to frequency of light in medium

Answer 7

DOES NOT CHANGE inside medium

Question 8

what does refractive index depend on

Answer 8

frequency of light (why white light seperates into rainbow when passing through prism)
each colour refracts differently

Question 9

do short or long wavelengths refract more?

Answer 9

short

Question 10

do short or long wavelengths diffract more?

Answer 10

long

Question 11

what is the critical angle?

Answer 11

the angle at which light no longer refracts and instead travels along the edge of the prism

angle of incidence at which angle of refraction is 90 degrees

Question 12

critical angle equation

Answer 12

n = 1 / sin theta c

Question 13

total internal reflection

Answer 13

when all light is reflected back inside the block and none of it is refracted

Question 14

theta < theta c

Answer 14

refracts

Question 15

more dense to less dense medium

Answer 15

tends away from normal

Question 16

less dense to more dense medium

Answer 16

tends towards normal

Question 17

theta = theta c

Answer 17

refracts along surface of prism

Question 18

theta > theta c

Answer 18

total internal relfection

Question 19

why do diamonds sparkle?

Answer 19

the very small critical angle mena that light entering the diamond is total internally reflected many times before emerging at various angles.