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  1. AP Physics 2 Revised
FlashcardFlashcardStudy GuideStudy GuideQuestion BankQuestion BankGlossaryGlossary

Glossary

A

Angle of incidence

Criticality: 3

The angle formed between an incoming light ray and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface) at the point where the ray strikes.

Example:

When sunlight hits a window, the angle of incidence is measured from the incoming ray to the imaginary line perpendicular to the glass.

Angle of reflection

Criticality: 3

The angle formed between the outgoing (reflected) light ray and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface) at the point of reflection.

Example:

After light bounces off a mirror, the angle of reflection describes how far the reflected ray deviates from the normal.

D

Diffuse reflection

Criticality: 2

Reflection that occurs when light strikes a rough or irregular surface, causing the incident light rays to scatter in many different directions.

Example:

The reason you can see a book from any angle is due to diffuse reflection off its paper surface.

G

Geometric optics

Criticality: 2

A simplified model of light that treats light as rays traveling in straight lines, ignoring its wave nature to analyze phenomena like reflection and refraction.

Example:

Using a ruler and protractor to trace light paths through lenses in a lab experiment is an application of geometric optics.

L

Law of reflection

Criticality: 3

A fundamental principle stating that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

Example:

If a flashlight beam hits a mirror at a 30° angle to the normal, the law of reflection dictates it will bounce off at 30° to the normal.

Light ray

Criticality: 3

A straight-line path that light travels in a specific direction, used to represent the direction of light propagation in geometric optics.

Example:

When a laser pointer shines across a dark room, the visible beam illustrates a single light ray.

N

Normal

Criticality: 3

An imaginary line drawn perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to a surface at the exact point where a light ray strikes it.

Example:

When drawing a ray diagram for a mirror, the normal helps you accurately measure the angles of incidence and reflection.

R

Ray diagrams

Criticality: 3

Visual tools that use light rays to illustrate how light interacts with surfaces like mirrors or lenses, showing its path before and after interaction.

Example:

Students often draw ray diagrams to predict where an image will form when light reflects off a curved mirror.

Reflection

Criticality: 3

The phenomenon where light bounces off a surface and returns into the medium from which it originated.

Example:

Seeing your face in a still pond is an example of light undergoing reflection from the water's surface.

S

Specular reflection

Criticality: 2

Reflection that occurs when light strikes a smooth, polished surface, causing incident light rays to reflect uniformly in a single direction.

Example:

A perfectly clear image of the sky on a calm lake is a classic example of specular reflection.