api: YAML JSON TOON Database
version: 1.0.0
format: json
dataset:
  slug: optics-fundamentals
  title: Optics Fundamentals
  description: Basic concepts in the study of light.
  summary: "The core phenomena of geometric and wave optics: reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, dispersion and lenses, with Snell's law, total internal reflection, polarization, scattering, refractive index, the thin lens equation and thin-film interference."
  use_when[2]: You need a precise definition of an optical phenomenon.,"You are explaining how a lens, prism or fiber behaves."
  caveats[2]: Geometric optics (rays) is an approximation that fails when features are comparable to the wavelength; wave optics is needed for diffraction and interference.,"Refractive index depends on wavelength, which is what produces dispersion."
  related[2]: waves-and-sound,electromagnetism-basics
  category: Physics
  category_slug: physics
  tags: "physics,optics,light"
  view_count: 0
  entry_count: 16
  fields[2]{section,field,type,example}:
    data,concept,string,Reflection
    data,description,string,Light bouncing off a surface.
data[16]{concept,description}:
  Reflection,Light bouncing off a surface.
  Refraction,Bending of light as it passes between media.
  Diffraction,Spreading of light around obstacles or apertures.
  Interference,Combination of light waves producing reinforcement or cancellation.
  Dispersion,Separation of light into colors by wavelength.
  Lens,Transparent object that refracts light to form images.
  Snell's Law,"Relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices: n1 sin(theta1) = n2 sin(theta2)."
  Refractive Index,The ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to its speed in a medium.
  Total Internal Reflection,Complete reflection of light at a boundary when it travels from a denser to a less dense medium beyond the critical angle; the principle of optical fiber.
  Critical Angle,The smallest angle of incidence at which total internal reflection occurs.
  Polarization,Restriction of the oscillation direction of a transverse wave such as light to a particular plane.
  Scattering,Redirection of light by particles or molecules; Rayleigh scattering of sunlight by air gives the sky its blue color.
  Focal Length,The distance from a lens or mirror to the point where parallel rays converge.
  Thin Lens Equation,"Relates object distance, image distance and focal length: 1/f = 1/d_o + 1/d_i."
  Thin-Film Interference,"Colors produced when light reflecting from the top and bottom of a thin film interferes, as in soap bubbles and oil slicks."
  Aberration,"A departure from ideal image formation, such as spherical or chromatic aberration."