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  2. AP Physics 2
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What are the steps to apply Snell's Law?

  1. Identify the two media and their indices of refraction (n₁ and n₂). 2. Determine the angle of incidence (θ₁). 3. Use Snell's Law n1sin⁡(θ1)=n2sin⁡(θ2)n_1 \sin(θ_1) = n_2 \sin(θ_2)n1​sin(θ1​)=n2​sin(θ2​) to solve for the angle of refraction (θ₂).
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What are the steps to apply Snell's Law?

  1. Identify the two media and their indices of refraction (n₁ and n₂). 2. Determine the angle of incidence (θ₁). 3. Use Snell's Law n1sin⁡(θ1)=n2sin⁡(θ2)n_1 \sin(θ_1) = n_2 \sin(θ_2)n1​sin(θ1​)=n2​sin(θ2​) to solve for the angle of refraction (θ₂).

How do you determine if light will bend towards or away from the normal when refracting?

  1. Compare the indices of refraction of the two media. 2. If light goes from a lower to a higher index (n₂ > n₁), it bends towards the normal. 3. If light goes from a higher to a lower index (n₂ < n₁), it bends away from the normal.

What are the conditions required for total internal reflection (TIR) to occur?

  1. Light must be traveling from a medium with a higher index of refraction (n₁) to a medium with a lower index of refraction (n₂). 2. The angle of incidence (θ₁) must be greater than the critical angle (θc).

How do you calculate the critical angle?

  1. Identify the indices of refraction of the two media (n₁ and n₂), where n₁ > n₂. 2. Use the formula sin⁡(θc)=n2n1\sin(θ_c) = \frac{n_2}{n_1}sin(θc​)=n1​n2​​ to find the sine of the critical angle. 3. Calculate the critical angle (θc) by taking the inverse sine (arcsin) of the result.

What steps are involved in analyzing light interaction at a boundary between two media?

  1. Determine the type of interaction: reflection, refraction, or absorption. 2. If reflection, apply the law of reflection. 3. If refraction, use Snell's Law to calculate the angle of refraction. 4. If TIR is possible, check if the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.

What are the differences between Specular and Diffuse Reflection?

Specular Reflection: Occurs on smooth surfaces, preserves the image, orderly reflection. Diffuse Reflection: Occurs on rough surfaces, scatters light in many directions, no clear image.

What are the differences between Reflection and Refraction?

Reflection: Light bounces off a surface. Refraction: Light bends as it passes through a medium.

How do Refraction and Total Internal Reflection differ?

Refraction: Light bends and passes through a medium. Total Internal Reflection: Light is completely reflected within the original medium.

What is the difference between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction?

Angle of Incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal line. Angle of Refraction: The angle between the refracted ray and the normal line.

Compare and contrast the behavior of light when n₂ > n₁ versus n₂ < n₁ during refraction.

n₂ > n₁: Light bends towards the normal, speed decreases. n₂ < n₁: Light bends away from the normal, speed increases.

What is the effect of light entering a medium with a higher index of refraction?

The light slows down and bends towards the normal.

What is the effect of light entering a medium with a lower index of refraction?

The light speeds up and bends away from the normal.

What happens when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle?

Total internal reflection occurs; the light is completely reflected back into the original medium.

What is the effect of a rough surface on reflection?

Diffuse reflection occurs, scattering light in many directions.

What is the effect of increasing the angle of incidence when light travels from a higher to a lower index of refraction?

The angle of refraction increases until it reaches 90 degrees (critical angle), beyond which total internal reflection occurs.