Light and Optics Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Light and Optics Deck (30)
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0
Q

An observer looking 42° up and away from rain may see a rainbow created from the wavelengths splitting apart as white light travels through the raindrops. What is the term for this phenomenon?

A

Dispersion - white light incident to face of prism comes out with split wavelengths, because wavelength related to index of refraction, where a small λ has a large n and a smaller angle of refraction when passing into a denser medium

1
Q

The index of refraction (n) is equal to c/v and it is dependent on λ, because c = λf. What are some assumptions to be made from the aforementioned information?

A

Light of different wavelengths have different speeds and refract at different angles in different media.

2
Q

Speed of Light

A

Measured in a vacuum, it is 3.00 X 10^8 m/s, where c=λf

3
Q

Snell’s Law

A

Equation used to find either n or angle of refraction when passing from one medium to another: n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2

4
Q

How does light reach the end of fiber optic cables without really showing up on the sides of the cables?

A

Total internal reflection occurs when the θ of light traveling from high n to low n is greater than the critical angle: n2/n1=sinθ1

5
Q

Law of Reflection

A

θi = θr

6
Q

Pointing a flashlight through a small slit leads to a spreading out effect called?

A

Diffraction, where there are bright and dark fringes. The dark fringes could be located with: a sinθ = nλ

7
Q

How do polarizing sunglasses work?

A

The polarizing filters on the sunglasses only allow electromagnetic waves parallel to the filter through, leading to plane-polarized light and preventing glare from hitting the eyes.

8
Q

Virtual Image

A

An image produced at a point where light does not actually converge.

9
Q

Real Image

A

Image produced at a point where light actually converges.

10
Q

Lens Makers’ Equation

A

1/f = 1/p + 1/q

11
Q

Magnification

A

m = -i/o

A negative value means that the image is inverted.

12
Q

What is the term for the distance between the focal point and the mirror or lens?

A

Focal Length

13
Q

What type of mirror is your bathroom mirror and what type of image does it produce?

A

Assuming you have a normal bathroom mirror, it is a plane mirror where the incident light rays remain parallel after reflection. A plane mirror always produces a virtual image the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror.

14
Q

Spherical Mirror

A

Curved mirror with a focal length equal to r/2.

15
Q

What type of mirror is the make-up/ shaving mirror?

A

It is a converging mirror, which is concave, with a positive focal length. Beyond the focal point, an object in front of the converging mirror produces a virtual image. At the focal point, no image occurs. Before the focal point, an object produces a real image.

16
Q

Diverging Mirror

A

A convex mirror that has a negative focal length and that always leads to virtual images.

17
Q

Converging Lens

A

A thick-centered lens that converges light rays at a single point. An object beyond the focal point will produce a real, inverted image. Placed before the focal point, the object produces a real, upright image. The virtual side is on the same side as the object for lenses.

18
Q

Diverging Lens

A

A thin-centered lens that always produces a virtual image.

19
Q

Wavelengths (Å) of Spectrum

A
UV < 4000
Violet 4000 - 4250
Blue 4250 - 4900
Green 4900 - 5750
Yellow 5750 - 5850
Orange 5850 - 6500
Red 6500 - 7000
Infrared > 7000
20
Q

What type of lenses does the eye have?

A

Lenses in contact, where the equivalent focal length follows this equation: 1/f = Σ1/f

21
Q

What type of lens configuration are in telescopes and microscopes?

A

Lenses not in contact, where the magnification of the system involves multiplying the magnification of all of the individual lenses.

22
Q

Monochromatic Light

A

Light of only one wavelength

23
Q

Coherent Light

A

Light waves whose phase differences do not change with time

24
Q

Interference

A

Amplitudes if light waves sum up

25
Q

Electromagnetic Waves

A

A transverse wave with a magnetic field and electric field perpendicular to each other

26
Q

Photon

A

It is an electric and magnetic wave perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

27
Q

Moving from a medium of low index of refraction to a medium with a higher index of refraction causes light to:

A

Slow down and bend towards the normal

28
Q

Fermat’s Principle

A

Light takes the fastest path between two points.

29
Q

Energy of Photon

A

E = hf