Understanding Refraction and Dispersion of Light
Refraction and dispersion are fundamental concepts in optics that describe how light behaves when it encounters different mediums.
Refraction: Definition and Explanation
- Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different density.
- This change in speed causes the light to change direction. For example, when light travels from air (less dense) to water (more dense), it slows down and bends towards the normal line.
Key Laws of Refraction
- Snell's Law: This law relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the indices of refraction of the two media.
- Critical Angle: The angle of incidence that results in light being refracted along the boundary of the two media (total internal reflection occurs beyond this angle).
Dispersion: Definition and Explanation
- Dispersion is the phenomenon where white light separates into its constituent colors when passing through a prism.
- This occurs because different colors of light have different wavelengths and thus refract at different angles.
Applications of Refraction and Dispersion
- Optical Instruments: Refraction is utilized in lenses, microscopes, and telescopes to focus light.
- Rainbows: Dispersion explains the formation of rainbows, where sunlight refracts and disperses through raindrops.
Numericals on Refraction
1. Example Problem: Calculate the angle of refraction when light passes from air into glass (n = 1.5) at an angle of incidence of 30 degrees.
2. Solution Steps:
- Use Snell's Law: n1 * sin(θ1) = n2 * sin(θ2).
- Substitute values and solve for θ2.
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