Solutions

Unit C - Light and Optical Systems

Section 2 - Light Behaves in Predictable

Section 2: Light Behaves in Predictable Ways. (44 Marks)

Key Concepts:
❖​ Transmission of Light
❖​ The Interaction of Light with Materials
❖​ Reflection
❖​ Refraction

2.1 Light Travels in Rays and Interacts with Materials

1.​ A ray is a straight line with a starting point and a direction. Explain why rays are a good
representation of light. (2 Marks)

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Rays are useful in showing how light travels because it starts from a source, travels
away from the source in a straight line, with an arrow indicating the direction of travel -
illustrating how light travels away from its source in a straight line.

2.​ Ray diagrams help us understand how light behaves. In which diagram is the light more
intense. Explain. (2 Marks)

The diagram above illustrates a higher intensity of light. If we consider that the flashlight
is the source of a limited but large number of light rays, the closer we are to the source,
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the greater the number of light rays we are exposed to. Even looking at the ray diagram
above, we can see that given an even spread of rays from the flashlight, more rays strike
the eye in the diagram above than the one below.

3.​ Can ray diagrams help us understand how shadows are formed? Explain. (2 Marks)

Yes. If we draw straight lines from our light source, we can see that the shadow cast by
the person or object is in direct proportion to the size of the object obstructing the rays -
thus the person stops the light rays from going any further, and with the absence of light,
we form a shadow.

4.​ What do we mean when we say a material is translucent? (1 Mark)

Translucent materials allow some of the light that shines on it to pass through it.

5.​ What is an opaque material? (1 Mark)

An opaque material does not allow light to pass through it. It either absorbs the light or
reflects the light away - casting shadows behind it.

6.​ What is the special property that makes an object luminous? (1 Mark)

A luminous object is one that produces light.

7.​ What happens when light rays hit a smooth surface? Why? (2 Marks)

Regular reflection occurs when light rays hit a smooth surface. We portray incoming
light as a series of parallel rays and as the light strikes a perfectly smooth surface, all of
the rays bound away from the smooth surface evenly in the same direction.
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8.​ What happens when light rays hit a rough surface? Why? (2 Marks)

We say that diffuse reflection occurs when light rays hit an irregular or rough surface.
We portray the incoming light as a series of parallel rays but as the light strikes the rough
surface it reflects unevenly due to the rough surface and so the reflected light rays
scatter in many different directions.

2.2 The Law of Reflection

1.​ On the following diagram, label the angle of incidence, the angle of reflection, and the
normal. (3 Marks)

2.​ What is the law of reflection? (1 Mark)

The law of reflection tells us that when a light shines on a smooth surface, the angle of
incidence (the angle that the light ray strikes the smooth surface) is equal to the angle of
reflection (the angle at which the light ray bounces off the smooth surface) relative to the
normal, which is a line perpendicular to the smooth surface.

2.3 Reflecting Light with Curved Mirrors

1.​ Explain how the law of reflection works with a concave mirror to reflect all light rays
through a single focal point. Refer to angle of incidence and angle of reflection in your
explanation. (3 Marks)

When we see light rays strike a concave mirror, each one of the light rays follows the law
of reflection, that is, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. Because of
the geometry of the curved mirror, all of the light rays that are reflected end up passing
through a single point in space that we call the focal point.

Extra: The image in the concave mirror depends on where the object is relative to the
focal point. If the object is far away from the focal point, the image in the mirror will be
small and upside down. The further away from the mirror that the object is, the smaller
the upside down reflection appears. As we approach the focal point, the reflection gets
increasingly larger. If we are between the focal point and the mirror the reflection turns
right side up in addition to becoming larger.

3.​ What are three examples of the use of a concave mirror in everyday technology? (3
Marks)

Concave mirrors can be used to focus a flashlight into a more focused parallel beam, it is
commonly used in reflecting telescopes to gather and concentrate light to produce
images for viewing, and it is used as small personal mirrors for cosmetics that can be
used to produce an enlarged image of your face.
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2.​ Explain how the law of reflection works with a convex mirror to reflect all light rays away
from a single focal point. Refer to angle of incidence and angle of reflection in your
explanation. (3 Marks)

When we see light rays strike a convex mirror, each one of the light rays follows the law
of reflection, that is, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. Because of
the geometry of the curved mirror, all of the light rays that strike the convex mirror are
reflected away - and the reflection appears to be coming from a single point behind the
convex mirror - that we call the focal point.

Extra: A great example of a convex mirror is the side mirrors on a car. They are convex
mirrors such that when you look at the mirror, the reflected image appears to be behind
the mirror.

2.4 Transparent Substances Refract Light

1.​ What happens to light rays when they pass from one medium into another kind of
medium? Explain the process of refraction. (2 Marks)

When light rays pass from one medium into another type of medium with a different
optical density the speed changes. If the light ray strikes the new medium at an angle,
the change in speed results in a slight change in direction. This bending of the light ray is
called refraction.
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2.​ How does the density of the second medium affect the refraction when a light ray passes
from one medium into another? (2 Marks)

Refraction happens when light passes from one medium into another medium at an
angle due to the change in speed of the light ray in the new medium. We find that the
more optically dense the new medium, the more the light ray slows down, and the
greater the refraction or bend in the light direction.

3.​ In the diagram above, the angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence. What
does that tell us about the two media? (2 Marks)

It tells us that the light ray is travelling into a medium that is more optically dense than
the medium it was originally. The smaller angle of refraction tells us that the light ray has
slowed down a little bit in the second medium.

4.​ What if the angle of refraction is larger than the angle of incidence in the diagram
above? What would that tell us about the two media? (2 Marks)

If the angle of refraction is larger than the angle of incidence, then that tells us that the
second material is less optically dense. It means that the light ray is travelling a little bit
faster as it moves into the second medium.
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2.5 Lenses Refract and Focus Light

1.​ Describe the shape of a concave lens? (2 Marks)

A concave lens is thinner in the centre than it is at the edges, forming a bowl-like shape
on both sides of the lens.

2.​ What does a concave lens do to the light rays that pass through it? (2 Marks)

As light, that we illustrate as parallel rays, passes through a concave lens, the shape of
the lens refracts the rays of light away from the center of the lens, thus the light rays fan
out, diverging as they pass through the lens.

3.​ Describe the shape of a convex lens? (2 Marks)

A convex lens is thicker in the middle than it is at the edges, bulging outwards.

4.​ What does a convex lens do to the light rays that pass through it? (2 Marks)

As light, that we illustrate as parallel rays, passes through a convex lens, the shape of
the lens refracts the rays of light towards the center line of the lens, thus the light rays
converge towards and through a focal point as they pass through the lens.

5.​ Would a concave or convex lens be better at collecting light? Why? (2 Marks)

Convex lenses would be better at collecting light since it brings the rays of light together.