Unit 5: AP Physics 2 study notes - Optic Fundamentals

Geometric Optics

The study of light as rays interacting with boundaries, producing reflection.

Reflection

When a light ray bounces back into the original medium after encountering a boundary between two media.

Specular Reflection

Reflection off a smooth surface, where all parallel incident rays are reflected parallel to one another.

Diffuse Reflection

Reflection off a rough surface, where parallel incident rays are scattered in multiple directions.

Law of Reflection

The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection (θi = θr).

Plane Mirror

A flat reflecting surface that forms a simple image.

Virtual Image

An image that appears to be present but cannot be projected onto a screen.

Upright Image

An image that has the same vertical orientation as the object.

Magnification (M)

The ratio of the height of the image to the height of the object.

Concave Mirror

A spherical mirror with the inner surface reflective, used to converge light rays.

Convex Mirror

A spherical mirror with the outer surface reflective, used to diverge light rays.

Focal Point (F)

The point where incoming parallel rays converge after reflecting off a concave mirror.

Center of Curvature (C)

The center of the sphere from which a spherical mirror is derived.

Radius of Curvature (R)

The distance from the mirror surface to the center of curvature.

Ray Diagrams

Visual representations used to determine where an image forms in optics.

Principal Ray

A ray that defines key properties in ray tracing for image formation.

Image Distance (d_i)

The distance from the mirror to the image formed.

Object Distance (d_o)

The distance from the mirror to the object being reflected.

Mirror Equation

An equation relating the focal length, object distance, and image distance: 1/f = 1/do + 1/di.

Magnification Equation

An equation relating height of the image to height of the object and their distances: M = hi/ho = -di/do.

Sign Conventions

Rules used to determine the signs of distances in mirror equations, which indicate the nature of the image.

Critical Reflection

The phenomenon where the angles with respect to the normal line are crucial for understanding ray behavior.

Focal Length (f)

The distance from the mirror to the focal point; positive for concave, negative for convex mirrors.

Virtual Focal Point

The point from which rays appear to emanate after reflection from a convex mirror.

Inverted Image

An image that is upside down relative to the object.

Laterally Inverted

When an image has left and right reversed, typical of mirrors.

Real Image

An image that can be projected onto a screen; formed by actual convergence of rays.