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ch 29 physics
PHYSICS VOCAB
Question | Answer |
---|---|
reflection | the bouncing back of a particle or wave that strikes the boundary between two media. |
normal | a line perpendicular to a surface |
angle of incidence | angle between an incident ray and the normal to a suface |
angle of reflection | angle between a reflected ray and the normal to a surface. |
law of reflection | the angle of incidence for a wave that strikes a surface is equal tot he angle of reflection this is true for both partially and totally reflected waves. |
virtual images | an image formed through reflection or refraction that can be seen by an observer but cannot be projected on a screen because light from the object does not actually come to a focus |
diffuse reflection | the reflection of wavaes in many directions from a rough surface. |
reverberations | persistence of a sound, as in an echo due to multiple reflections |
refraction | the change in direction of a wave as it crosses the boundary between two media in which the wave travels at differnt speeds |
wavefront | the crest, trough, or any continuous portion of a two-demensional or three demensional wave. |
mirage | a floating image that appears in the distance and is to the refraction of light on earths atmospheres |
dispersion | the separation of light into colors arranged according to their frequency. interaction with prism. |
critical angle | the minimus angle of incidence for which a light ray is totally reflected within a medium |
total internal reflection | the 100% reflection of light that strikes the boundary between two media at an angle greater than the critical angle. |
optical fiber | a transparent fiver, usually of glass or plastic, that can transmit light down its length by means of total internal reflection. |