Optics
7 terms
Rainbow Formation
Optics
Degrees (°)
An optical meteorological phenomenon caused by reflection, refraction, and chromatic dispersion of sunlight inside raindrops.
θ_primary ≈ 42° (Red outer, violet inner)
Rayleigh Criterion
Optics
rad (radians)
The condition for two point sources to be barely resolved by an optical instrument, stating that the central diffraction maximum of one image coincides with the first minimum of the other.
θ_min = 1.22 λ / D
Rayleigh Scattering
Optics
W/m²
The elastic scattering of light or electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the light's wavelength.
I_scattered ∝ 1 / λ⁴
Real Image
Optics
m
An optical image formed by actual convergence of light rays, which can be projected onto a physical screen.
v > 0 (for real image), m < 0 (inverted)
Reflection
Optics
Degrees (°)
The bouncing back of a light ray or wave when it strikes a boundary surface between two different media without entering the second medium.
θ_i = θ_r
Refraction
Optics
Dimensionless (n)
The bending of a light ray as it passes obliquely from one transparent medium into another with a different refractive index.
n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2 (Snell's Law)
Resolving Power
Optics
Dimensionless
The ability of an optical instrument or grating to separate and distinguish two closely spaced point objects or adjacent spectral wavelengths.
R = λ / Δλ = N m (Grating), RP = 1 / Δθ