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Physics%20class%20notes.pdf

The document discusses the principles of total internal reflection, Snell's Law, and the properties of electromagnetic waves. It explains the conditions necessary for total internal reflection, the law of reflection, and the characteristics of mirrors and lenses, including conditions like nearsightedness and farsightedness. Additionally, it touches on the theory of relativity and the interference of waves, highlighting the interaction of light and its behavior in different mediums.

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3 views

Physics%20class%20notes.pdf

The document discusses the principles of total internal reflection, Snell's Law, and the properties of electromagnetic waves. It explains the conditions necessary for total internal reflection, the law of reflection, and the characteristics of mirrors and lenses, including conditions like nearsightedness and farsightedness. Additionally, it touches on the theory of relativity and the interference of waves, highlighting the interaction of light and its behavior in different mediums.

Uploaded by

biancacadano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Total Internal Reflection

Snell’s Law - describes the relationship between angles of incidence and refraction when
referring to light of other waves passing through a boundary between 2 isotropic media;
n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2

Common Properties (Electromagnetic Spectrum):


- All electromagnetic waves are Transverse waves;
- Can travel through a vacuum;
- Travel at exactly the same speed in a vacuum, the speed of light, 300,000,000 m/s;
- Transfer energy from one place to another;
- Can be reflected;
- Can be refracted
Conditions of Total Internal Reflection
1. The light ray moves from a more dense medium to a less dense medium
2. The angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle.

Key Takeaways:
1. The changing of a light ray’s direction (loosely called bending) when it passes through
variations of matter is called refraction.
2. The index of refraction is n=c/v, where v is the speed of light in the material, c is the
speed of light in the vacuum, and n is the index of refraction.
3. Dispersion is the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths
whenever the propagation of light depends on wavelength.
4. Light is an electromagnetic wave that travels the speed of 299, 792, 458 m/s in a
vacuum.
5. Light is both a wave and a particle
6. Geometric optics is the branch of optics that describes light as a ray, while physical
optics describes; light as a wave.

Law of Reflection
1. The incident ray, the normal line, and the reflected ray are located on the same
plane.
2. The angle of incidence θ1 is equal to the angle of reflection θ1 (this is applicable for
both specular and diffuse reflection. It means that even if the light rays in a diffuse
reflection are reflected, the angle of reflection is still the same as the angle of
incidence)

Mirrors and Lenses


Radii/Center of Curvature (C) - a center of the sphere in which the mirror is a part
Vertex (V) - the center of the mirror
Principal Axis - a line that passes through the radii or center of curvature (C) and the vertex
(v).
Principal Focus (F) - distance from the focus (F) to the vertex (V) is called the focal length
Curved Mirrors

Concave Mirror Convec

a. Center of Curvature Lies in front of the mirror Lies behind the mirror

b. Image Real and virtual Virtual

c. Projection Images project Images do not project

d. Uses Used as reflectors in Used as rearview mirrors in


projectors, searchlights, cars and bikes
shavings, etc.

e. View Gives a magnified image of Cover a wider area of view


an object

Nearsightedness (myopia) - a condition in which you can see objects near you clearly, but
objects farther away are blurry. It occurs when the shape of your eyes causes light to bend
(refract) incorrectly, focusing images in front of your retina instead of ON your retina.

Farsightedness (hyperopia) - a condition where you can see distant objects clearly, but
objects nearby may be blurry, the degree of farsightedness influences the focusing ability.

Astigmatism - common and generally treatable imperfection in the curvature of the eye that
causes blurred distance and near vision, it occurs when either the front surface of the eye
(cornea) or the lens inside the eye has mismatched curves.
Theory of Relativity
- Matter causes space to curve, positing that gravitation is not a force, but a curved
field in the space-time continuum created by the presence of mass.

Interference of Waves
- A phenomenon in which 2 coherent waves are combined by adding their intensities
or displacements with due consideration for their phase difference.
- The interference of waves causes the medium to take on a shape that results from
the net effect of the two individual waves upon the particles of the medium.

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