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The relationship among the speed of propagation, wavelength, and frequency for any wave is given byvW=fλvW=fλ, so that for electromagnetic waves,c=fλ,c=fλ,whereffis the frequency,λλis the wavelength, andccis the speed of light.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
The electromagnetic spectrum is separated into many categories and subcategories, based on the frequency and wavelength, source, and uses of the electromagnetic waves.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
Any electromagnetic wave produced by currents in wires is classified as a radio wave, the lowest frequency electromagnetic waves. Radio waves are divided into many types, depending on their applications, ranging up to microwaves at their highest frequencies.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
Infrared radiation lies below visible light in frequency and is produced by thermal motion and the vibration and rotation of atoms and molecules. Infrared’s lower frequencies overlap with the highest-frequency microwaves.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
Visible light is largely produced by electronic transitions in atoms and molecules, and is defined as being detectable by the human eye. Its colors vary with frequency, from red at the lowest to violet at the highest.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
Ultraviolet radiation starts with frequencies just above violet in the visible range and is produced primarily by electronic transitions in atoms and molecules.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
X-rays are created in high-voltage discharges and by electron bombardment of metal targets. Their lowest frequencies overlap the ultraviolet range but extend to much higher values, overlapping at the high end with gamma rays.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
Gamma rays are nuclear in origin and are defined to include the highest-frequency electromagnetic radiation of any type.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
The energy carried by any wave is proportional to its amplitude squared. For electromagnetic waves, this means intensity can be expressed asIave=cε0E022,Iave=cε0E022,whereIaveIaveis the average intensity inW/m2W/m2, andE0E0is the maximum electric field strength of a continuous sinusoidal wave.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
whereIaveIaveis the average intensity inW/m2W/m2, andE0E0is the maximum electric field strength of a continuous sinusoidal wave.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
This can also be expressed in terms of the maximum magnetic field strengthB0B0asIave=cB022μ0Iave=cB022μ0and in terms of both electric and magnetic fields asIave=E0B02μ0.Iave=E0B02μ0.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
and in terms of both electric and magnetic fields as
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
The three expressions forIaveIaveare all equivalent.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/24-section-summary
converging lens : a convex lens in which light rays that enter it parallel to its axis converge at a single point on the opposite side
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
converging mirror : a concave mirror in which light rays that strike it parallel to its axis converge at one or more points along the axis
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
corner reflector : an object consisting of two mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces, so that the light that enters is reflected back exactly parallel to the direction from which it came
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
critical angle : incident angle that produces an angle of refraction of90º90º
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
dispersion : spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
diverging lens : a concave lens in which light rays that enter it parallel to its axis bend away (diverge) from its axis
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
diverging mirror : a convex mirror in which light rays that strike it parallel to its axis bend away (diverge) from its axis
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
fiber optics : transmission of light down fibers of plastic or glass, applying the principle of total internal reflection
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
focal length : distance from the center of a lens or curved mirror to its focal point
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
focal point : for a converging lens or mirror, the point at which converging light rays cross; for a diverging lens or mirror, the point from which diverging light rays appear to originate
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
geometric optics : part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
index of refraction : for a material, the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to that in the material
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
law of reflection : angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
law of reflection : angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
magnification : ratio of image height to object height
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
mirror : smooth surface that reflects light at specific angles, forming an image of the person or object in front of it
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
power : inverse of focal length
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
rainbow : dispersion of sunlight into a continuous distribution of colors according to wavelength, produced by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by water droplets in the sky
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
ray : straight line that originates at some point
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
real image : image that can be projected
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
refraction : changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
virtual image : image that cannot be projected
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
zircon : natural gemstone with a large index of refraction
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-glossary
A straight line that originates at some point is called a ray.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light is called geometric optics.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Light can travel in three ways from a source to another location: (1) directly from the source through empty space; (2) through various media; (3) after being reflected from a mirror.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
A mirror has a smooth surface and reflects light at specific angles.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Light is diffused when it reflects from a rough surface.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Mirror images can be photographed and videotaped by instruments.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter is called refraction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The speed of light in vacuumc=2.99792458×108m/s≈3.00×108m/s.c=2.99792458×108m/s≈3.00×108m/s.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Index of refractionn=cvn=cv, wherevvis the speed of light in the material,ccis the speed of light in vacuum, andnnis the index of refraction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Snell’s law, the law of refraction, is stated in equation form asn1sinθ1=n2sinθ2n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The incident angle that produces an angle of refraction of90º90ºis called critical angle.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Total internal reflection is a phenomenon that occurs at the boundary between two mediums, such that if the incident angle in the first medium is greater than the critical angle, then all the light is reflected back into that medium.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Fiber optics involves the transmission of light down fibers of plastic or glass, applying the principle of total internal reflection.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Endoscopes are used to explore the body through various orifices or minor incisions, based on the transmission of light through optical fibers.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Cladding prevents light from being transmitted between fibers in a bundle.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Diamonds sparkle due to total internal reflection coupled with a large index of refraction.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths is called dispersion.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Rainbows are produced by a combination of refraction and reflection and involve the dispersion of sunlight into a continuous distribution of colors.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Dispersion produces beautiful rainbows but also causes problems in certain optical systems.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Light rays entering a converging lens parallel to its axis cross one another at a single point on the opposite side.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
For a converging lens, the focal point is the point at which converging light rays cross; for a diverging lens, the focal point is the point from which diverging light rays appear to originate.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The distance from the center of the lens to its focal point is called the focal lengthff.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
PowerPPof a lens is defined to be the inverse of its focal length,P=1fP=1f.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
A lens that causes the light rays to bend away from its axis is called a diverging lens.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Ray tracing is the technique of graphically determining the paths that light rays take.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The image in which light rays from one point on the object actually cross at the location of the image and can be projected onto a screen, a piece of film, or the retina of an eye is called a real image.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Thin lens equations are1do+1di=1f1do+1di=1fandhiho=−dido=mhiho=−dido=m(magnification).
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The distance of the image from the center of the lens is called image distance.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
An image that is on the same side of the lens as the object and cannot be projected on a screen is called a virtual image.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
The characteristics of an image formed by a flat mirror are: (a) The image and object are the same distance from the mirror, (b) The image is a virtual image, and (c) The image is situated behind the mirror.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
Image length is half the radius of curvature.f=R2f=R2
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
A convex mirror is a diverging mirror and forms only one type of image, namely a virtual image.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/25-section-summary
aberration : failure of rays to converge at one focus because of limitations or defects in a lens or mirror
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
accommodation : the ability of the eye to adjust its focal length is known as accommodation
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
adaptive optics : optical technology in which computers adjust the lenses and mirrors in a device to correct for image distortions
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
angular magnification : a ratio related to the focal lengths of the objective and eyepiece and given asM=−fofeM=−fofe
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
astigmatism : the result of an inability of the cornea to properly focus an image onto the retina
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
color constancy : a part of the visual perception system that allows people to perceive color in a variety of conditions and to see some consistency in the color
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
compound microscope : a microscope constructed from two convex lenses, the first serving as the ocular lens(close to the eye) and the second serving as the objective lens
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
eyepiece : the lens or combination of lenses in an optical instrument nearest to the eye of the observer
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
far point : the object point imaged by the eye onto the retina in an unaccommodated eye
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
farsightedness : another term for hyperopia, the condition of an eye where incoming rays of light reach the retina before they converge into a focused image
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
hues : identity of a color as it relates specifically to the spectrum
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
hyperopia : the condition of an eye where incoming rays of light reach the retina before they converge into a focused image
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
laser vision correction : a medical procedure used to correct astigmatism and eyesight deficiencies such as myopia and hyperopia
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
myopia : a visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than being focused on the retina
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
near point : the point nearest the eye at which an object is accurately focused on the retina at full accommodation
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
nearsightedness : another term for myopia, a visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than being focused on the retina
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
numerical aperture : a number or measure that expresses the ability of a lens to resolve fine detail in an object being observed. Derived by mathematical formulaNA=nsinα,NA=nsinα,wherennis the refractive index of the medium between the lens and the specimen andα=θ/2α=θ/2
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
objective lens : the lens nearest to the object being examined
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
presbyopia : a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively unable to focus on objects close to the viewer
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
retinex : a theory proposed to explain color and brightness perception and constancies; is a combination of the words retina and cortex, which are the two areas responsible for the processing of visual information
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
retinex theory of color vision : the ability to perceive color in an ambient-colored environment
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
rods and cones : two types of photoreceptors in the human retina; rods are responsible for vision at low light levels, while cones are active at higher light levels
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
simplified theory of color vision : a theory that states that there are three primary colors, which correspond to the three types of cones
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-glossary
Image formation by the eye is adequately described by the thin lens equations:P=1do+1diandhiho=−dido=m.P=1do+1diandhiho=−dido=m.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The eye produces a real image on the retina by adjusting its focal length and power in a process called accommodation.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
For close vision, the eye is fully accommodated and has its greatest power, whereas for distant vision, it is totally relaxed and has its smallest power.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The loss of the ability to accommodate with age is called presbyopia, which is corrected by the use of a converging lens to add power for close vision.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Nearsightedness, or myopia, is the inability to see distant objects and is corrected with a diverging lens to reduce power.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is the inability to see close objects and is corrected with a converging lens to increase power.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
In myopia and hyperopia, the corrective lenses produce images at a distance that the person can see clearly—the far point and near point, respectively.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary
The eye has four types of light receptors—rods and three types of color-sensitive cones.
https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/26-section-summary