Light and Optics

What is the range of the visible spectrum?

400 nm (violet)- 700 nm(red)

For a spherical mirror, the focal length is equal to ____ the radius of curvature of the mirror.

Half

What does it mean if an object appears red?

It means that the object is absorbing all the colors of light except for red.

What is the equation for magnification?

M= -di/do

What happens when light enters a medium with a higher index of refraction ?

The light bends toward the normal. When light enters a medium with a lower index of refraction, it bends away from the normal

For a *plane mirror*, how is the image distance related to the object distance?

They are the same. The virtual image is "behind" the mirror at the same distance the object is from the plane mirror.

What is rectilinear propagation?

When light travels through a homogenous medium, it travels in a straight line.

What is the law of reflection?

angle of incidence = angle of reflection

What is the formula for c?

c = fλ

What is the speed of light?

c=3.00x10^8 m/s

What is snell's law?

n=c/v n=index of refraction of the medium

What are electromagnetic waves?

transverse waves consisting of changing electric fields and changing magnetic fields