Concept Map

Concept Trailer: Refraction

Key Terms

Chapter 25

dispersion

spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths

fiber optics

transmission of light down fibers of plastic or glass, applying the principle of total internal reflection

geometric optics

part of optics dealing with the ray aspect of light

index of refraction

for a material, the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to that in the material

law of reflection

angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence

law of reflection

angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence

rainbow

dispersion of sunlight into a continuous distribution of colors according to wavelength, produced by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by water droplets in the sky

ray

straight line that originates at some point

refraction

changing of a light ray’s direction when it passes through variations in matter

Chapter 26

aberration

failure of rays to converge at one focus because of limitations or defects in a lens or mirror

accommodation

the ability of the eye to adjust its focal length is known as accommodation

adaptive optics

optical technology in which computers adjust the lenses and mirrors in a device to correct for image distortions

color constancy

a part of the visual perception system that allows people to perceive color in a variety of conditions and to see some consistency in the color

compound microscope

a microscope constructed from two convex lenses, the first serving as the ocular lens(close to the eye) and the second serving as the objective lens

eyepiece

the lens or combination of lenses in an optical instrument nearest to the eye of the observer

far point

the object point imaged by the eye onto the retina in an unaccommodated eye

farsightedness

another term for hyperopia, the condition of an eye where incoming rays of light reach the retina before they converge into a focused image

hues

identity of a color as it relates specifically to the spectrum

hyperopia

the condition of an eye where incoming rays of light reach the retina before they converge into a focused image

laser vision correction

a medical procedure used to correct astigmatism and eyesight deficiencies such as myopia and hyperopia

More terms can be found in the textbook, chapters 25 and 26.