4. Refraction of Light at Plane Surfaces
Refraction is the bending of light when it passes from one transparent medium to another. This concept is crucial for understanding the behavior of light in various applications such as lenses and optical instruments. The chapter explores the laws of refraction, the refractive index, and practical applications through examples and illustrations.
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Sections
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What we have learnt
- Refraction involves the bending of light due to a change in speed as it travels through different media.
- The refractive index is a dimensionless number that describes how much light bends when it enters a material.
- Real-life applications of refraction can be observed in optics, such as in spectacles and mirages.
Key Concepts
- -- Refraction of Light
- The change in direction of a light ray when it passes obliquely from one transparent medium to another.
- -- Refractive Index (μ)
- The ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium, determining how much the light bends.
- -- Incident Ray
- The ray of light that strikes the surface of the medium.
- -- Refracted Ray
- The ray of light that bends as it enters a different medium.
- -- Angle of Incidence (i)
- The angle between the incident ray and the normal at the point of incidence.
- -- Angle of Refraction (r)
- The angle between the refracted ray and the normal.
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