Diverging Lenses – Ray Diagrams
Earlier in Lesson 5, we learned how light is refracted by double concave lens in a manner that a virtual image is formed. We also learned about three simple rules of refraction for double concave…
Converging Lenses – Object-Image Relations
Previously in Lesson 5, ray diagrams were constructed in order to determine the general location, size, orientation, and type of image formed by double convex lenses. Perhaps you noticed that…
Converging Lenses – Ray Diagrams
One theme of the Reflection and Refraction units of The Physics Classroom Tutorial has been that we see an object because light from the object travels to our eyes as we sight…
Image Formation Revisited
One major principle discussed in both Unit 13 and Unit 14 of The Physics Classroom Tutorial is the line of sight principle: In order to view an object, you must sight…
Refraction by Lenses
We have already learned that a lens is a carefully ground or molded piece of transparent material that refracts light rays in such a way as to form an image. Lenses serve to refract…
Image Formation by Lenses
The Anatomy of a Lens If a piece of glass or other transparent material takes on the appropriate shape, it is possible that parallel incident rays would either converge to…
Mirages
Most of our discussion of refraction in this unit has pertained to the refraction of light at a distinct boundary. As light is transmitted across the boundary from one material to another,…
Rainbow Formation
One of nature's most splendid masterpieces is the rainbow. A rainbow is an excellent demonstration of the dispersion of light and one more piece of evidence that visible light is composed of a…
Interesting Refraction Phenomena
Dispersion of Light by Prisms In the Light and Color unit of The Physics Classroom Tutorial, the visible light spectrum was introduced and discussed. Visible light, also known as white light, consists of a…
The Critical Angle
In the previous part of Lesson 3, the phenomenon of total internal reflection was introduced. Total internal reflection (TIR) is the phenomenon that involves the reflection of all the incident light…
