phys: reflection and refraction

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eggy 2020-12-14 11:53:17 -05:00
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@ -638,6 +638,46 @@ When waves of the same frequency meet, if their crests or troughs overlap, a **s
## 4.4 - Wave behaviour ## 4.4 - Wave behaviour
### Reflection
When waves meet a flat surface and are not diffused or refracted, they are reflected at the same angle they entered relative to the **normal**.
!!! definition
- The **incident** wave/angle refers to the wave hitting the surface.
- The **reflected** wave/angle refers to the wave moving away from the surface.
- The **normal** is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the arrival point of the incident ray.
<img src="/resources/images/reflection.png" width=700>(Source: Kognity)</img>
### Refraction
When light travels between two media that have different **optical densities**, it refracts and changes its direction as well as its speed. The **frequency** of the wave does not change but its speed does, therefore the **wavelength** changes as well.
!!! definition
**Refraction** is the change in the direction and speed of light from a change in the optical density of the medium it travels through.
When a ray travels from a **less** optically dense to **more** optically dense medium (fast to slow), the ray bends **toward** the normal and its wavelength decreases.
<img src="/resources/images/refraction.gif" width=700>(Source: Kognity)</img>
### Snell's law and total internal reflection
The **refractive index** of a medium represents the ratio of wave speeds in the media, where $v$ is the speed of light in the medium:
$$n=\frac{c}{v}$$
Air has an index of refraction of $1$.
Snell's law states that the incident and refracted angles are related by the index of refraction of the media.
$$\frac{n_1}{n_2}=\frac{\sin\theta_2}{\sin\theta_1}=\frac{v_2}{v_1}$$
or
$$n_1\sin\theta_1=n_2\sin\theta_2$$
If a ray travels from a **slower** to a **faster** medium, the ray bends away from the normal. If the ray would refract so much that it does not leave the incident medium at all, **total internal reflection** (TIR) occurs and the ray follows the rules of **reflection**. The critical angle denotes the incident angle required for the refracted angle to be exactly $90°$, and any angle greater than it results in TIR.
$$\sin\theta_c = \frac{n_2}{n_1}$$
<img src="/resources/images/total-internal-reflection.png" width=700>(Source: Kognity)</img>
### Diffraction ### Diffraction
!!! definition !!! definition
@ -655,7 +695,7 @@ As a wavefront passes an aperture, there are fewer points beside it and the wave
For observable diffraction, the wavelength must be greater than or equal to the width of the aperture. For observable diffraction, the wavelength must be greater than or equal to the width of the aperture.
## 4.4 - Standing waves ## 4.5 - Standing waves
A standing wave does not travel, so no energy is transferred. They are caused by the interference of symmetrical travelling waves moving in opposite directions. A standing wave does not travel, so no energy is transferred. They are caused by the interference of symmetrical travelling waves moving in opposite directions.