Law of reflection:
The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
Diffuse reflection:
Reflection from a rough surface where variations in the direction of the surface cause light to reflect in different directions.
Convex mirror:
Also called a diverging mirror, a surface that diverges light as if it originates from a point behind the mirror, a focal point.
Concave mirror:
Also, called a converging mirror, a surface that converges light to a single point, focal point.
Real image:
An image where the rays of light actually meet at a location. It can be projected onto a screen.
Virtual image:
An image that cannot be projected onto a screen. The rays of light don’t actually converge there, they just seem to originate from that location.
Refraction:
The bending of light due to its change in velocity in various media.
Index of refraction:
The ratio between the speed of light in a vacuum and a particular medium.
Snell’s law:
The formula that describes the amount of refraction of light based on the two different media and the angle of the light ray: n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2
Total internal reflection:
The complete reflection of light when it strikes the boundary between two media at greater than a critical angle.
Convex lens:
A converging lens that gathers incoming light to a single focal point.
Concave lens:
A diverging lens that diverges light as if it originates from a point behing the lens, the focal point.
Spherical aberration:
A lens defect where light is imperfectly focused near the focal point.
Chromatic aberration:
A lens defect where various color focus at different locations.
