Optics Problems

1. Describe what happens to a light ray as it enters a piece of glass (or tank of water, for that matter) -

a. at a zero degree angle (with respect to the normal)

b. at a non-zero angle

(Though the math may be less comfortable to you, a relationship called Snell's law describes this all perfectly.)

2. Describe the law of reflection.

3. What exactly is the focal length of a lens or mirror? Under what circumstances are images formed AT the focal point?

4. Does a flat/plane mirror have a focal length? Discuss.

5. What is the difference between real and virtual images?

6. In the lens equation, there are 3 relevant variables. What are they?

7. Draw what happens when several parallel rays of light hit:

a. convex lens

b. concave lens

c. concave mirror

d. convex mirror

e. plane mirror

8. "An image always forms at the focal length of a lens or mirror." This statement is false for more than one reason. Discuss.

9. A convex lens is similar to a _____. Why?

10. A concave lens is similar to a ______. Why?

11. With a convex lens, a real image is formed everywhere except when the do is _____.

12. When the do is between f and 2f, the images are always _____.

13. When you are using a magnifying glass or make-up/shaving mirror, where are you placing the object (do) to get a magnified image? What type of image is this?

14. What types of lenses are used for nearsightness and farsightedness?