Refraction is when light waves undergo a change of direction when they pass from one medium to another at an interface
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What happens when light enters a more dense medium?
It is refracted towards the normal
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What happens when light enters a less dense medium?
It is refracted away from the normal
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When are waves not refracted?
Waves are not refracted when they are travelling along the normal
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Why are waves refracted?
Waves are refracted due to a change in speed
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What can refraction by a prism lead to?
Dispersion
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How can dispersion be created?
Through refraction by a prism
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How can refractive index be defined?
Refractive Index = Speed of Light in a Vacuum (air) ÷ Speed of Light in the Medium
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What is the relationship between refractive index, angle of incidence and the angle of refraction?
Refractive Index = sin( Angle of Incidence) ÷ sin( Angle of Refraction)
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What is the relationship between refractive index and critical angle?
Refractive Index = 1 ÷ sin( Critical Angle)
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Wha is total internal reflection?
Total Internal Reflection is a special type of refraction which occurs if the angle of incidence is greater than the critical able in a more dense medium
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What is an example of a use of total internal reflection?
Visible light can be transmitted through optical fibres by total internal reflection- example of use: endoscope for internal imaging
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What happens when light enters a more dense medium?
Back
It is refracted towards the normal
Card 3
Front
What happens when light enters a less dense medium?
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