Reflection,Refraction,Total Internal Reflection,Diffraction

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ohm
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Internal
AI Thread Summary
Reflection occurs when photons hit a shiny surface, following the principle that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, although this is nuanced in quantum electrodynamics. Refraction happens when light transitions between different media, altering its wavelength and speed while maintaining constant frequency. Total Internal Reflection is defined as occurring when light strikes the boundary of two media at an angle equal to or greater than the critical angle. Diffraction, demonstrated by the double slit experiment, illustrates that light behaves as a wave, spreading out when passing through narrow openings due to the uncertainty principle. Understanding these phenomena is essential for grasping fundamental concepts in optics.
Ohm
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
When does each OCCUR?
-Please,Simplify your answers as far as possible but be scientific-
 
Physics news on Phys.org
reflection occurs when photons approach a shiny surface and are reflected, according to the classical theory angle of incidence = angle of reflection, however this is untrue when reflection is explained in terms of quantum electrodynamics (QED).

Refraction is a bit complicated (to me anyway). This happens when light travels from one medium to another, this causes a change in wavelength and the speed changes.Light has to be continous, frequency has to stay constant once the photon is emitted. A very precise definition is that: the wavefunction of the photon interacts with the wavefunction of the electron and causes an oscillation in the centre of gravity of charge density.

Total Internal Reflection occurs when light is refracted and the critical angle is 90o.

Diffraction is a property of waves. This is shown by the double slit experiment. Light is confined to travel through a very small hole so according to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle the position is not spread out, so the photon must have a wide range of momentum and would travel through the two slits at the same time.

Gary
 
About total internal reflection... I believe that the better definition is that where incident light hits the edge of a medium at an angle >= to the critical angle which is determined by the two mediums that the light is trying to move between.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top