College Physics II (electromagnetic spectrum in chapter 21; 7 divisions)

Chapter 22: Reflection and Refraction of Light

I. The nature of light
A. Dual nature of light
1. Light travels like a transverse wave
a) Travels in a straight line until meeting a boundary between two media
2. Light interacts with matter like a particle
a) Travels in a straight line until acted upon by a large mass's gravity
B. Quantum Theory
1. Light has a constant speed: 3.00 * 10^8 m/s (wavelength varies inversely with
frequency
2. Photons are discrete packets of energy released and absorbed in quantum jumps
a) The energy depends on frequency:
(1) /deltaE = h-f
(2) 6.63 * 10^(-34) J*s - Planck's constant
II. Geometric Waves
A. Waves vs. Rays
1. Light propagates through expanding spherical wave fronts
2. Spherical waves from distant sources can be approximated by plane waves
3. Straight-line rays will approximate waves effects
B. Reflection: the bouncing of a wave
1. Types of reflection
a) Specular: complete reflection by a smooth surface
b) Diffuse: dismissed reflection by a rough surface
2. Law of Reflection
a) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection (i) = (r)
b) Angles are measured from the normal
c) Second law of reflection - the incident ray, the normal, and the reflected ray must
all exist in the same plane
C. Refraction: the bending of a wave
1. The law of refraction
a) At a media boundary, light always bends toward the optically denser medium
(Table page 378)
b)

2. The index of refraction:

3. Snell's law

a) Only perpendicular rays cross the boundary without refracting

D. Dispersion
1. Composite light refracts into its components since long waves refract less than short
waves
a) Prisms refract white light into the spectrum
2. Monochromatic light spreads and dilutes
III. Applications
A. Rainbows-no two rainbows are the same; every rainbow seen is unique to that individual
1. General formation
a) The light source is behind the observer
b) Rain is in front of the observer
c) Rainbows form in the rain
(1) Violet refracts most
(2) Red refracts least
2. Primary Rainbows
a) Light enters the top of a raindrop that is low in the sky
b) One reflection and two refractions
(1) Red exits on bottom and is observed
(2) Violet exits on top and passes overhead
c) The rainbow is colored red down to violet
3. Secondary Rainbows
a) Light enters the bottom of a raindrop that is high in the sky
b) Two reflections and two refractions
(1) Red exits on top and passes overhead
(2) Violet exits on bottom and is observed
c) The rainbow is colored violet down to red
B. Total internal reflection
1. Critical angle (): the angle of incidence in the denser medium that produces a
refraction angle of 90 in the less dense medium
a) n(1) sin(c) = n(2) sin 90
b) sin (c) = n(2)/n(1) [n(2) must be a less medium]
2. If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, light reflects instead of
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