SNC2D Optics Review

Chapter 10
Light (electromagnetic wave) is a type of energy source that moves
through space like a wave.

All light comes from an “excited atom” releasing energy. Light is the visible form of electromagnetic waves and is part of
the electromagnetic spectrum.

Incandescence: light emitted from a material at a high temperature.

Luminescence: the emission of light by a material that has not been heated. Examples of luminescence include
chemiluminescence (light that is produced by a chemical reaction), fluorescence (light emitted after
exposure to UV light) and electric discharge (energetic electrons collide with gas particles in a sealed
glass tube).

Reflection is the change in direction of light when it bounces off a surface.

The law of reflection states then when light reflects off a plane mirror the
angle of reflection will always
equal the angle of incidence.

Plane mirrors form images that

are identical to the object, but backwards.

A concave mirror’s reflecting surface curves inward and a convex mirror’s

reflecting surface curves outward. The focus is always half the distance
between the center of curvature and the mirror surface.

If an incident ray travels parallel to

the principal axis the reflected ray
will go through the focal point (F). If
an incident ray travels through the
focal point, the reflected ray will be
parallel to the principal axis (PA).
When drawing ray diagrams, the
image will appear where the
Concave Mirror Convex Mirror reflected rays intersect.

The centre of curvature (C) is exactly twice the focal length. And the vertex (V) is where the mirror meets the principal
axis.
The four characteristics of an image are Location (quantitative), Orientation (erect or inverted), Size (quantitative) and
Type (real or virtual). (Remember LOST).

Mirror and Lens Equation(s): OR

Magnification Equation:

If di is negative the image is behind the mirror and the image is virtual. If h i is negative the image is inverted. F
is negative for the convex mirror.
Concave Mirror Examples/Applications Convex Mirror Examples/Applications
Make-up/shaving mirror Bus and car Mirrors
Solar oven Security Checkpoint Mirrors
Satellite Dishes and Radar Technology Store Security Mirrors
concave mirror telescope

Chapter 11

Refraction is the bending of light as it travels from one medium to another.

Light bends towards the normal if the second medium is more dense (slower).
Light bends away from the normal if the second medium is less dense (faster).

The index of refraction (n) is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (c) to the
speed of light in a given medium (v). The following triangle will be on your test
as a helpful reminder when calculating required values. c
Dispersion is the process of separating colours by refraction.
n v
Partial reflection and refraction occurs when an incidence ray strikes a new medium and some
of the light rays are reflected and some of the light rays are refracted. Examples: light
reflecting and refracting off of surface of the water, rear-view mirrors

The amount of reflection depends on

1. The type of medium
2. The angle of incidence, the large the angle the more reflection.

Total internal reflection occurs when incidence ray is complete reflected back from a
boundary of two medium. Examples: Fiber Optics, retroreflectors

Optical Phenomena in nature include rainbows (see diagram),

sundogs, apparent depth, shimmering and mirages. You
should be able to briefly describe each.

Chapter 12
A lens is a transparent object with at least one curved side that causes light to refract.

A converging lens has convex shape and brings parallel rays towards a common point.
A diverging lens has a concave shape and spreads light away from a common point.

Both lenses are drawn with two focal points, one behind and one in front, that are an equal
distance from the axis of symmetry. The distance of the focal point depends on the lens
material and curvature.

Lens ray diagrams are similar to mirror ray diagrams, except the image will appear where
the refracted rays cross

Applications include telescopes, binoculars,

microscopes, and the human eye. Be prepared to
explain at least one in detail.

Know what chromatic and spherical aberrations are.

 The Lens (and Mirror) Formula

ho
3 1
F’ F

2
4 hi

f f

do di

Triangle 1 and 2 are similar: Triangle 3 and 4 are similar:

hi = di - f hi = di
ho f ho do

Therefore:

di - f = di
f do

di f = dodi - dof

di f + dof = dodi Divide both sides by dodif

1 + 1 = 1
do di f

and,
M = hi = -di
ho do
Rules to follow when using the Lens/Mirror Equation:

1. do is always positive

2. di is positive if the image is real

di is negative if the image is virtual.

3. ho is always positive

4. hi is positive if the image is erect.

hi is negative if the image is inverted.

5. f is positive if light can pass through the principle focus (convex lens)
f is negative if light cannot pass through the principle focus (concave
lens)

In General: + means real/erect

- means virtual/inverted.

AND … if magnification is negative, image is real – for LENSES ONLY

(and concave mirrors)
SNC 2D – Light & Optics – Review
Name:_____________________
Topics to Review:
 Waves
 Electromagnetic Spectrum
 Colour Theory (Additive & Subtractive)
 Types of Light (Incandescent, Fluorescent, etc.)
 Behaviour of Light (Ray model of light)
o Absorb, Reflect, Transmit
o Translucent, Transparent, Opaque
o Shadows
 Plane Mirrors
o Law of Reflection
o Ray Diagrams
 Curved Mirrors
o Concave – Ray Diagrams & Uses
o Convex – Ray Diagrams & Uses
 Refraction
o Index of Refraction ( n = c/v)
o Snell’s Law ( n1sinӨ1 = n2sinӨ2 )
o Total Internal Reflection (& critical angle)
 Lenses
o Convex – Ray Diagrams & Uses
o Concave – Ray Diagrams & Uses
SNC 2D – Light & Optics – Review
Name:_____________________
Topics to Review:
 Waves
 Electromagnetic Spectrum
 Colour Theory (Additive & Subtractive)
 Types of Light (Incandescent, Fluorescent, etc.)
 Behaviour of Light (Ray model of light)
o Absorb, Reflect, Transmit
o Translucent, Transparent, Opaque
o Shadows
 Plane Mirrors
o Law of Reflection
o Ray Diagrams
 Curved Mirrors
o Concave – Ray Diagrams & Uses
o Convex – Ray Diagrams & Uses
 Refraction
o Index of Refraction ( n = c/v)
o Snell’s Law ( n1sinӨ1 = n2sinӨ2 )
o Total Internal Reflection (& critical angle)
 Lenses
o Convex – Ray Diagrams & Uses
o Concave – Ray Diagrams & Uses
 Optics Unit Test Reeview

Key Equaations and nu

umbers

c=3.0xx 108m/s

Key Term ms
angle of refraction Hyperopia Real image
Bioluminnescence Incandesccent Reflected angle
Centre of curvature Incident Ray
R Reflected Ray
Concavee mirror Index of refraction
r Reflectionn
Convergging lens Iris Refractionn
Convergging lens Lens Retina
Convergging mirror Light Rayy SALT
Convex mirror
m Microwavves Sign conveention
Cornea myopia Specular reflection
Critical angle
a Near Sighhtedness Speed of liight
Diffuse reflection
r Normal Line
L Thin lens equation
Diverginng lens Optic nervve Total interrnal reflectionn
Diverginng mirror Optical ceentre Ultraviolett
Electrommagnetic specttrum phosphoreescence vertex
Electrommagnetic wavee Plane mirrror Virtual im
mage
Far sighttedness principal axis Visible ligght
Flourescent Pupil X-rays
Focal lenngth Radio waaves
Human eyee Ray diagrrams

Key Ideas
1 Understannd that light iss produced byy natural and artificial sourrces and know
1. w what those sources are
2 Explain how light is made
2. m up of elecctromagnetic waves.
3 Describe the
3. t laws of reeflection
4 Be able too explain how
4. w mirror produuce images inn both plane and a curved miirrors.
5 Be able too draw ray diaagrams for vaarious mirrorss and identify the SALT chharacteristics for different cases.
5.
6 Understannd that light trravels at diffeerent speeds thhrough transpparent medium
6. ms.
7 Understannd why light bends
7. b toward the normal when
w it slows down in a meedium with a higher index of refractionn
8 Explain inn words and with
8. w diagram ms why total innternal reflection occurs when
w an inciddent ray is aim
med at a mediium
with a low
wer index of refraction
r at an
a angle greatter than the crritical angle
9 Know how
9. w to calculatee the index off reflection
1 Understannd how variou
10. us lenses channge the directtion of light
1 Be able too draw ray diaagrams to findd images for various
11. v lens cases
c
1 Use the leens equations to calculate image
12. i and objject locationss
1 Use magnnification equation to calcuulate height annd distance off images and objects
13.