All Flashcards
Define 'Principal Axis' of a spherical mirror.
The line through the center of the mirror and the center of curvature.
What is the 'Center of Curvature (C)' of a spherical mirror?
The center of the sphere from which the mirror is a part.
Define 'Focal Length (f)' of a spherical mirror.
The distance from the mirror to the focal point. It's half the radius of curvature: .
What is a 'Converging Lens'?
A lens that converges parallel light rays to a focal point on the far side.
Define 'Diverging Lens'.
A lens that causes light rays to diverge away from a focal point on the same side as the incident rays.
What is 'image distance' ()?
The distance from the image to the mirror or lens.
What are the steps for ray tracing with mirrors?
- Draw the setup (mirror and object). 2. Draw incident rays. 3. Reflect the rays. 4. Locate the image. 5. Analyze the image.
What are the steps for ray tracing with lenses?
- Draw the setup (lens and object). 2. Draw incident rays. 3. Refract the rays. 4. Locate the image. 5. Analyze the image.
What are the key differences between concave and convex mirrors?
Concave: Reflective surface curves inward, can form real or virtual images. Convex: Reflective surface curves outward, always forms virtual images.
What are the key differences between converging (convex) and diverging (concave) lenses?
Converging: Thicker in the middle, converges light rays, can form real or virtual images. Diverging: Thinner in the middle, diverges light rays, forms virtual images.
Differentiate between real and virtual images.
Real: Formed by actual convergence of light rays, can be projected on a screen. Virtual: Formed by apparent convergence of light rays, cannot be projected on a screen.