Light
Light: Three models
• Newton’s particle model (rays)
– Models light as bits of energy traveling very fast in
straight lines.
• Huygens’s/Maxwell wave model
– Models light at waves (transverse EM waves). Color
determined by frequency, intensity by square of a total
oscillating amplitude.
• Einstein’s photon model
– Models light as “wavicles” == quantum particles
whose energy is determined by frequency and that can
interfere with themselves.
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PHYS132
Venn Diagram
Quantum
Electrodynamics
Physical Optics
(Wave model)
Geometric Optics
(Ray model)
Einstein’s
photon
model
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3
Modeling in Biology
Are there examples in biology where
you also need different models ?
Each model highlights different properties
of the protein
- Hydrophobic character
- Folding property
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Reason for multiple models
• Each “model” of light highlights a particular
characteristic of light (just like each model of a
protein highlights a particular aspect of what
proteins are and how they work)
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Light: Purpose of the three models
• Newton’s particle model (rays)
– Models how light interacts with mirrors and lenses
• Huygens’s/Maxwell wave model
– Models cancellation and interference
• Einstein’s photon model
– Models absorption and emission of light
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The Ray Model
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Classical Electromagnetism - Maxwell’s Equations
Everything in models (1) and (2) is contained in Maxwell’s Equations
𝜌𝜌
𝛻𝛻 � 𝐄𝐄 =
𝜖𝜖0
Charge density
𝜕𝜕𝐁𝐁
𝛻𝛻 × 𝐄𝐄 = −
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
𝛻𝛻 � 𝐁𝐁 = 0
𝛻𝛻 × 𝐁𝐁 = 𝜇𝜇0 𝑱𝑱⃑ + 𝜖𝜖0
𝜕𝜕𝐄𝐄
𝜕𝜕𝑡𝑡
Current density
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You are not expected to know these. Just know they exist.
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Electromagnetic
Waves are one
type of solution
to Maxwell’s
equations
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Special Case Sinusoidal Waves
Ey (x, t) = f+ (x - vem t) = E0 cos [ k(x - vem t)]
Wavenumber and
wavelength
Ey (x, t)
2𝜋𝜋
𝑘𝑘 =
λ
2𝜋𝜋
λ=
𝑘𝑘
E0
- E0
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These two contain
the same
information
10
Special Case Sinusoidal Waves
Ey (x, t) = f+ (x - vem t) = E0 cos [ k(x - vem t)]
2𝜋𝜋 = 𝑘𝑘𝑣𝑣𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑇𝑇
Ey (x, t)
E0
- E0
Different ways of saying the same thing:
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𝜔𝜔
𝑘𝑘
= 𝑣𝑣𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
PHYS132
𝑓𝑓λ = 𝑣𝑣𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
Introduce
2𝜋𝜋
𝜔𝜔 =
𝑇𝑇
1
𝑓𝑓 =
𝑇𝑇
11
Polarizations
We picked this combination
of fields: Ey - Bz
Could have picked this
combination of fields: Ez - By
These are called plane polarized. Fields lie in plane
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13
Waves emanating from a
point source
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15
Wave crests
When can one consider waves to be
like particles following a trajectory?
Motion of crests
Direction of power flow
• Wave model: study solution of Maxwell equations.
Most complete classical description. Called physical
optics.
• Ray model: approximate propagation of light as that of
particles following specific paths or “rays”. Called
geometric optics.
• Quantum optics: Light actually comes in chunks called
photons
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λ
Comparable to
opening size
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What is the difference?
Diffraction.
PHYS132
λ
Much smaller
than opening
size
17
Diffraction
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18
Chapter 23 Preview
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19
In the Ray Picture a beam of light is a bundle of parallel
traveling rays
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Foothold Ideas 1:
Light as Rays - The Physics
• Through empty space (or ~air)
light travels in straight lines.
• Each point on an object scatters light,
spraying it off in all directions.
• A polished surface reflects rays back again
according to the rule: The angle of
incidence equals the angle of reflection.
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PHYS132
Foothold Ideas 2:
Light as Rays - the perception
• We only see something when light
coming from it enters our eyes.
• Our eyes identify a point as being
on an object when rays traced back
converge at that point.
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The Ray Model of Light
 Light travels through a
transparent material in
straight lines called light rays.
 The speed of light is v = c/n,
where n is the index of
refraction of the material.
 Light rays do not interact with
each other.
 Two rays can cross without
either being affected in any
way.
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The Ray Model of Light
Light interacts with matter in four different ways:
At an interface between two materials, light can be
either reflected or refracted.
Within a material, light can be either scattered or
absorbed.
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The Ray Model of Light
 An object is a source of light rays.
 Rays originate from every point on the
object, and each point sends rays in all
directions.
 The eye “sees” an object
when diverging bundles
of rays from each point
on the object enter the
pupil and are focused to
an image on the retina.
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Objects
 Objects can be
either self-luminous,
such as the sun,
flames, and
lightbulbs, or
reflective.
 Most objects are
reflective.
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Objects
 The diverging rays from a point source are emitted in
all directions.
 Each point on an object is a point source of light rays.
 A parallel bundle of rays could be a laser beam, or
light from a distant object.
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Ray Diagrams
 Rays originate from every point on an object and
travel outward in all directions, but a diagram trying to
show all these rays would be messy and confusing.
 To simplify the picture, we use a ray diagram showing
only a few rays.
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Apertures
 A camera obscura is a
darkened room with a
single, small hole,
called an aperture.
 The geometry of the
rays causes the image
to be upside down.
 The object and image
heights are related
by:
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Apertures
We can apply the ray model to more complex apertures,
such as the L-shaped aperture below.
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30
The dark screen has a small
hole, ≈2 mm in diameter. The
lightbulb is the only source of
light. What do you see on the
viewing screen?
The image part with relationship ID rId7 was not found in the file.
51%
27%
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A. A
B. B
C. C
C
B
A
21%
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31
Two point sources of light
illuminate a narrow vertical
aperture in a dark screen.
What do you see on the
viewing screen?
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0%
E
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
0%
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32
Suppose you have a small brightly lit bulb,
a mask (a cardboard screen with a small circular hole
cut in it), and a screen. You see a small circle of light on
the screen. What would happen to the spot if you
moved the bulb straight upward a bit?
The spot would stay where it was.
The spot would move up a bit.
The spot would move down a bit.
The spot would move right a bit.
The spot would move left a bit.
Something else would happen.
100%
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Th
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Th
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A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
33
Suppose you have two lit bulbs, the top one red and
the bottom one blue, a mask (a cardboard screen with
a small circular hole cut in it), and a screen, as shown.
What would you see on the screen if you held the bulbs
one over the other as shown?
A.
B.
One purple circle.
Two circles, one above the
other with the top one red,
the lower one blue.
C. Two circles, one above the
other with the top one
blue, the lower one red.
D. Something else.
67%
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PHYS132
Tw
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Tw
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9%
...
cle
.
17%
34
Kinds of Images: Real
• In the case of the previous slide, the rays
seen by the eye do in fact converge at a point.
• When the rays seen by the eye do meet,
the image is called real.
• If a screen is put at the real image, the rays
will scatter in all directions and an image
can be seen on the screen, just as if it were a
real object.
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PHYS132
When I arrived in New York for the
first time, we flew low over
Manhattan and I was impressed with
the view of the city lights in the dark.
Being tired after a long flight, I tried
to take a picture through the window
using my flash. Explain why this is a
bad idea and what the picture was
likely to show.
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36
Chapter 23 Preview
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37
Foothold Ideas 3:
Mirrors
• For most objects, light scatters in all directions.
For some objects (mirrors) light scatters from them
in controlled directions.
mirror
ordinary object
• A polished surface reflects rays back again according
to the rule: The angle of incidence equals the angle
of reflection.
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𝜃𝜃𝑖𝑖 𝜃𝜃𝑟𝑟
38
PHYS132
Where does an object seen
in a mirror appear to be?
object
equal
distance
along
perpendicular
Light rays do not carry information on whether
they were reflected!
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Virtual
image
of the
object
PHYS132
An observer O, facing a mirror, observes a light
source S. Where does O perceive
the mirror image of S to be located?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
1
2
3
4
Some other location
O cannot see S in the
mirror when they are as
shown.
55%
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3
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2
1
2%
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40
Kinds of Images: Virtual
• In the case of the previous slide, the rays
seen by the eye do not actually meet at a point – but
the brain, only knowing the direction of the ray,
assumes it came directly form an object.
• When the rays seen by the eye do not meet,
but the brain assumes they do,
the image is called virtual.
• If a screen is put at the position of the virtual image,
there are no rays there so nothing
will be seen on the screen.
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I have a small mirror – about 8 inches high
– hanging on my wall. When I’m standing
right in front of it, I can only see my head.
Can I see all of myself at once
by moving far back enough?
1. Yes
2. No
3. I can if I …
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Specular Reflection of Light
Reflection from a flat, smooth surface, such as a
mirror or a piece of polished metal, is called specular
reflection.
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Reflection
The law of reflection states that:
1. The incident ray and the reflected ray are in the same
plane normal to the surface, and
2. The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence:
θr = θI
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44
Example 23.1 Light Reflecting from a Mirror
Whiteboard, TA
& LA
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45
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46
Example 23.1 Light Reflecting from a Mirror
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47
Example 23.1 Light Reflecting from a Mirror
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48
Diffuse Reflection
 Most objects are seen by virtue of their reflected light.
 For a “rough” surface, the law of reflection is obeyed
at each point but the irregularities of the surface cause
the reflected rays to leave in many random directions.
 This situation is
called diffuse
reflection.
 It is how you see
this slide, the
wall, your hand,
your friend, and
so on.
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The Plane Mirror
 Consider P, a source of rays which reflect from a mirror.
 The reflected rays appear to emanate from P′, the same
distance behind the mirror as P is in front of the mirror.
 That is, s′ = s.
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50
The Plane Mirror
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51
You are looking at the image
of a pencil in a mirror. What
do you see in the mirror if the
top half of the mirror is
covered with a piece of dark
paper?
A. The full image of the
pencil.
B. The top half only of the
pencil.
C. The bottom half only of
the pencil.
D. No pencil, only the paper.
34% 34%
21%
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pa
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52
1. (3 pts) If we start our beaded string off in
a sinusoidal shape y(x) = A sin(πx/L) it
will oscillate with a period T0. If we start it
out with a shape y(x) = A sin(2πx/L) with
what period will it oscillate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
T0
2T0
T0/2
Something else
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53
2.1 (2 pts) A tightly
stretched string is
oscillating as a
function of time.
Graph A is a graph of
the string's shape at
a particular instant of
time and graph B is a
graph of the string's
velocity as a function
of position at that
same instant. (The
vertical axis is greatly
magnified.) Is the
wave on the string a:
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A.right going traveling wave
B.left going traveling wave
C.part of a standing wave growing in
amplitude at time t1
D.part of a standing wave shrinking
in amplitude at time t1
E.None of the above.
F.You can’t tell from the info given.
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54
2.2 (2 pts) Same
situation as 2.1 but
now graph A is a
graph of the string's
velocity as a
function of position
at a particular
instant of time and
graph B is a graph of
the string's shape at
that same instant.
Is the wave on the
string a:
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A.right going traveling wave
B.left going traveling wave
C.part of a standing wave growing in
amplitude at time t1
D.part of a standing wave shrinking
in amplitude at time t1
E.None of the above.
F.You can’t tell from the info given.
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55
3. (3 pts) A wire is rigidly attached to a wall. A pulse is
sent along the string toward the wall. What will
happen when the pulse reaches the wall? If there is
more than one answer, place them all in the box. If
none of these will occur, put N in the box.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
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The entire pulse will travel in the wall.
Some of the pulse will travel in the wall.
Some of the pulse were reflect right-side-up.
Some of the pulse will reflect upside-down.
The entire pulse will reflect right-side-up
The entire pulse will reflect upside-down
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56
You want to put a “full length mirror”
on the wall of your room; that is,
a mirror that is large enough so that
you can see your whole self in it all at the same time.
How big should the mirror be?
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44%
27%
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2%
si z
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Yo
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A. You can see yourself in any size
mirror if you go back far enough.
B. It depends on the size of your room
and whether
you can step back far enough from
the mirror.
C. The mirror needs to be about half
your size.
D. The mirror needs to be as big as you
are.
E. Some other answer
57
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58
Example 23.2 How High Is the Mirror?
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59
Example 23.2 How High Is the Mirror?
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60
Example 23.2 How High Is the Mirror?
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61
Example 23.2 How High Is the Mirror?
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62
What does a mirror do to an image?
Flips it left to right
Flips it upside down
Does both
Does something else
om
et
h
in
g
el
se
ot
h
Do
es
s
Do
es
b
ip
si
tu
ps
id
e
to
PHYS132
Fl
ef
t
ip
si
tl
Fl
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do
w
n
25% 25% 25% 25%
rig
ht
A.
B.
C.
D.
63
Chapter 23 Preview
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Chapter 23 Preview
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65
Refraction
Two things happen when a light ray is incident on a
smooth boundary between two transparent materials:
1.
2.
Part of the light reflects
from the boundary,
obeying the law of
reflection.
Part of the light continues
into the second medium.
The transmission of light
from one medium to
another, but with a
change in direction, is
called refraction.
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Refraction
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67
Refraction
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68
Indices of Refraction
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69
Refraction
 When a ray is transmitted into a material with a higher
index of refraction, it bends toward the normal.
 When a ray is transmitted into a material with a lower
index of refraction, it bends away from the normal.
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A laser beam passing
from medium 1 to
medium 2 is refracted
as shown. Which is
true?
33%
n1
a.
..
>
n2
.
33%
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Th
er
e’
sn
ot
en
ou
gh
n1
<
n2
.
33%
in
fo
rm
A. n1 < n2.
B. n1 > n2.
C. There’s not enough
information to
compare
n1 and n2.
71
Tactics: Analyzing Refraction
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72
Example 23.4 Measuring the Index of Refraction
Whiteboard, TA
& LA
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73
Example 23.4 Measuring the Index of Refraction
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74
Example 23.4 Measuring the Index of Refraction
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Example 23.4 Measuring the Index of Refraction
n1 = 1.59
ASSESS Referring to the
indices of refraction in
Table 23.1, we see that
the prism is made of
plastic.
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Total Internal Reflection
 When a ray crosses a boundary into a material with a lower
index of refraction, it bends away from the normal.
 As the angle θ1 increases, the refraction angle θ2 approaches
90°, and the fraction of the light energy transmitted decreases
while the fraction reflected increases.
 The critical angle of incidence
occurs when θ2 = 90°:
 The refracted light vanishes
at the critical angle and the
reflection becomes 100%
for any angle θ1 > θc.
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Total Internal Reflection
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78
A laser beam undergoes
two refractions plus total
internal reflection at the
interface between medium
2 and medium 3. Which is
true?
33%
n1
a.
..
>
n3
.
33%
Th
er
e’
sn
ot
en
ou
gh
n1
<
n3
.
33%
in
fo
rm
A. n1 < n3.
B. n1 > n3.
C. There’s not enough
information to
compare n1 and n3.
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79
Fiber Optics
 The most important modern application of total internal
reflection (TIR) is optical fibers.
 Light rays enter the glass fiber, then impinge on the
inside wall of the glass at an angle above the critical
angle, so they undergo TIR and remain inside the glass.
 The light continues to “bounce” its way down the tube as
if it were inside a pipe.
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Fiber Optics
 In a practical optical fiber, a small-diameter glass core
is surrounded by a layer of glass cladding.
 The glasses used for the core and the cladding have:
ncore > ncladding
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Image Formation by Refraction
If you see a fish that
appears to be
swimming close to the
front window of the
aquarium, but then look
through the side of the
aquarium, you’ll find
that the fish is actually
farther from the window
than you thought.
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Image Formation by Refraction
 Rays emerge from a
material with n1 > n2.
 Consider only
paraxial rays, for
which θ1 and θ2 are
quite small.
 In this case:
where s is the object
distance and s′ is the
image distance.
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83
A fish in an aquarium with flat sides looks out at
a hungry cat. To the fish, the distance to the cat
appears to be
less than the actual distance.
equal to the actual distance.
greater than the actual distance.
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th
e
ac
tu
al
di
st
an
ce
.
33% 33%
gr
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A.
B.
C.
84
Color and Dispersion
 A prism disperses white light into various colors.
 When a particular color of light enters a prism, its
color does not change.
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85
Color
 Different colors are associated with light of different
wavelengths.
 The longest wavelengths are perceived as red light and
the shortest as violet light.
 What we perceive as white light is a mixture of all colors.
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Dispersion
 The slight variation of index of refraction with
wavelength is known as dispersion.
 Shown is the dispersion curves of two common
glasses.
 Notice that n is
larger when the
wavelength is
shorter, thus
violet light
refracts more
than red light.
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Rainbows
 One of the most interesting sources of color in nature
is the rainbow.
 The basic cause of the rainbow is a combination of
refraction, reflection, and dispersion.
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Rainbows
 A ray of red light reaching your eye comes from a
drop higher in the sky than a ray of violet light.
 You have to look higher in the sky to see the red light
than to see the violet light.
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A narrow beam of white light is incident at an angle on
a piece of flint glass. As the light refracts into the glass,
of
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fo
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33%
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A. It forms a slightly diverging
cone with red rays on top,
violet rays on the bottom.
B. It forms a slightly diverging
cone with violet rays on top,
red rays on the bottom.
C. It remains a narrow beam of
white light because all the
colors of white were already
traveling in the same
direction.
90
Colored Filters and Colored Objects
 Green glass is green because it absorbs any light
that is “not green.”
 If a green filter and a red filter are overlapped, no
light gets through.
 The green
filter transmits
only green
light, which is
then absorbed
by the red
filter because
it is “not red.”
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Colored Filters and Colored Objects
 The figure below shows the absorption curve of
chlorophyll, which is essential for photosynthesis in
green plants.
 The chemical reactions of photosynthesis absorb red
light and blue/violet light from sunlight and puts it to use.
 When you look at
the green leaves
on a tree, you’re
seeing the light that
was reflected
because it wasn’t
needed for
photosynthesis.
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Light Scattering: Blue Skies and Red Sunsets
 Light can scatter
from small particles
that are suspended
in a medium.
 Rayleigh scattering
from atoms and
molecules depends
inversely on the
fourth power of the
wavelength:
Iscattered ∝λ4
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Light Scattering: Blue Skies and Red Sunsets
Sunsets are red because all the blue light has scattered as the sunlight passes through the atmosphere.
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