Behavior of electromagnetic waves at boundaries between different materials.
Optics: Optics is the branch of physics that focuses on the behavior and properties of light, including reflection and refraction.
Electromagnetic waves: Electromagnetic waves are waves of energy produced by the movement of charged particles. They include light waves, radio waves, and microwaves.
Ray tracing: Ray tracing is a method of tracing the path of light as it interacts with different surfaces, and is commonly used in computer graphics and optics.
Snell's law: Snell's law is a formula that describes the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction when a light ray passes from one medium to another.
Total internal reflection: Total internal reflection occurs when light is reflected back into a medium rather than passing through it, and is used in optical fibers and other applications.
Index of refraction: The index of refraction measures how much a material slows down light passing through it, and is an important factor in the behavior of light in different media.
Polarization: Polarization refers to the orientation of light waves, which can be either parallel or perpendicular to the direction of travel.
Dispersion: Dispersion is the separation of light into its different colors or wavelengths as it passes through a medium, and is responsible for the colors seen in rainbows and prisms.
Lenses: Lenses are curved surfaces that refract light to form an image, and are commonly used in cameras, eyeglasses, and other optical devices.
Interference: Interference occurs when two or more waves interact with each other, and can lead to constructive or destructive interference depending on the phase relationship between the waves.
Linear refraction: Linear refraction is the most common type of refraction that occurs when electromagnetic waves pass through a medium with different refractive indices. This causes the waves to bend as they pass through the boundary between the two materials.
Total internal reflection: Total internal reflection occurs when light is traveling through a medium with a higher refractive index and encounters a boundary with a medium with a lower refractive index. The angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle and the light is reflected back into the original medium.
Gradient index refraction: Gradient index refraction occurs when the refractive index of a medium varies gradually, rather than abruptly at the interface. This causes the wavefront to curve which can be used in optical devices such as lenses.
Specular reflection: Specular reflection occurs when plane waves encounter a smooth surface, such as a mirror or a metal, and are reflected in a single direction. The incident angle is equal to the angle of reflection.
Diffuse reflection: Diffuse reflection occurs when incident waves are reflected in many different directions from a rough surface, such as a matte paper or a brick wall. The incident angle is not equal to the angle of reflection.
Polarization-dependent reflection: Polarization-dependent reflection occurs when light waves encounter a boundary between two media with different refractive indices, and the polarization of the reflected light depends on the direction of the incident wave.
Coherent reflection: Coherent reflection occurs when light waves are reflected from a surface without any phase change, maintaining their coherence. This is important in laser technology and interferometry.
Incoherent reflection: Incoherent reflection occurs when light waves are reflected from a surface with a phase change, causing a loss of coherence. This is seen in most everyday reflections, such as from a wall or a table.