Optics
54 terms · page 2 of 3
Magnification
The ratio of image height to object height, or ratio of image distance to object distance in an optical system.
OpticsMalus's Law
The law stating that intensity of linearly polarized light transmitted through an analyzer is proportional to the squared cosine of the…
OpticsMichelson Interferometer
An optical instrument that splits a beam of light into two perpendicular paths and recombines them to create high-precision interference…
OpticsMinimum Deviation
The minimum value of deviation angle achieved when light passes symmetrically through a triangular prism.
OpticsMirage
An optical illusion caused by continuous refraction of light rays passing through air layers with steep temperature and density gradients.
OpticsNear Point & Far Point
The closest and farthest distances at which the human eye can focus objects sharply on the retina.
OpticsNewton's Rings
An interference pattern of concentric bright and dark rings formed by an air film enclosed between a plano-convex lens and a flat glass…
OpticsOptical Axis
The imaginary central straight line passing through the centers of curvature of all optical elements in a rotationally symmetric system.
OpticsOptical Fiber
A flexible, transparent glass or plastic fiber that transmits light signals across long distances via total internal reflection.
OpticsOptical Power
A measure of a lens or curved mirror's degree of light convergence or divergence, equal to the reciprocal of its focal length.
OpticsParaxial Approximation
A small-angle approximation in geometric optics assuming light rays make small angles $θ$ with the optical axis.
OpticsPolarization
The property of transverse electromagnetic waves specifying the geometric orientation of their electric field vector oscillations in space.
OpticsPresbyopia
The age-related loss of accommodation power in the human eye caused by reduced elasticity of the crystalline lens.
OpticsRainbow Formation
An optical meteorological phenomenon caused by reflection, refraction, and chromatic dispersion of sunlight inside raindrops.
OpticsRayleigh Criterion
The condition for two point sources to be barely resolved by an optical instrument, stating that the central diffraction maximum of one…
OpticsRayleigh Scattering
The elastic scattering of light or electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the light's wavelength.
OpticsReal Image
An optical image formed by actual convergence of light rays, which can be projected onto a physical screen.
OpticsReflection
The bouncing back of a light ray or wave when it strikes a boundary surface between two different media without entering the second medium.
OpticsRefraction
The bending of a light ray as it passes obliquely from one transparent medium into another with a different refractive index.
OpticsResolving Power
The ability of an optical instrument or grating to separate and distinguish two closely spaced point objects or adjacent spectral…
OpticsSimple Microscope
An optical magnifying instrument consisting of a single converging biconvex lens used to produce an enlarged, upright, virtual image.
OpticsSpherical Aberration
An image blur defect in spherical lenses and mirrors where marginal rays focus closer to the element than paraxial central rays.
OpticsSpherical Mirror
A curved mirror having a reflective surface shaped like a section of a sphere, classified as concave (converging) or convex (diverging).
OpticsTerrestrial Telescope
A refracting telescope incorporating an additional erecting lens system between objective and eyepiece to yield an upright image for ground…