Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 9: Problem 33

For transparent solids, distinguish between effects of surfaces that curve inward and those that curve outward on the paths of a parallel bundle of light rays incident on each.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The main difference between the effects of concave and convex surfaces is that concave surfaces cause light rays to converge at a focal point, while convex surfaces cause light rays to diverge or spread out, appearing as if they were coming from a point behind the solid object.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Concave Surfaces

A concave surface curves inward, like the interior of a bowl. When light rays pass through a transparent material with a concave surface, the surface causes the parallel rays to converge or come together at a particular point called the focal point.
02

Understanding Convex Surfaces

A convex surface curves outward, like the exterior of a sphere. When light rays pass through a transparent material with a convex surface, the surface causes the parallel rays to diverge or spread out, as if they were coming from a point behind the solid object.
03

Analyzing Transparent Solids with Concave Surfaces

When a parallel bundle of light rays enters a transparent solid with a concave surface, the rays will bend or refract towards the normal (perpendicular) to the surface. This causes the rays to converge at a point called the focal point. The behavior of these rays can be understood using the principles of refraction and Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence (the angle between the incoming ray and the normal) to the sine of the angle of refraction (the angle between the refracted ray and the normal) is constant for a given pair of materials and wavelengths.
04

Analyzing Transparent Solids with Convex Surfaces

When a parallel bundle of light rays enters a transparent solid with a convex surface, the rays will bend or refract away from the normal to the surface. This causes the rays to diverge or spread out. Instead of converging at a single point, the rays appear to be diverging from a point behind the solid object. Again, the behavior of these rays can be understood using the principles of refraction and Snell's Law.
05

Comparing Concave and Convex Surfaces

In summary, the main difference between the effects of concave and convex surfaces on the paths of light rays passing through transparent solids is that concave surfaces cause the rays to converge, while convex surfaces cause the rays to diverge. Concave surfaces bring parallel rays to a point called the focal point, whereas convex surfaces make the rays appear as if they were coming from a point behind the solid object. Both types of curved surfaces cause refraction of the light rays, and their behavior can be understood using the principles of refraction and Snell's Law.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

If the wavelength of visible light were around \(10 \mathrm{~cm}\) instead of 500 \(\mathrm{nm}\) and we could still see it, what effect would this have on our ability to see diffraction and interference effects?

A convex lens forms a clear, focused image of some small, fixed object on a screen. If the screen is moved closer to the lens, will the lens have to be (i) moved closer to the object, (ii) moved farther from the object, or (iii) left at the same location to produce a clear image on the screen at its new location? Explain your answer.

The cover of a book appears blue when illuminated with white light. What color will it appear in blue light? Red light? Explain.

What kind of mirror (concave, convex, or plane) do you think dental care workers use to examine patients' teeth and gums for disease? Explain your choice.

The law of reflection establishes a definite relationship between the angle of incidence of a light ray striking the boundary between two media and its angle of reflection. Describe this relationship.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Famous Physicists

Read Explanation

Thermodynamics

Read Explanation

Kinematics Physics

Read Explanation

Physics of Motion

Read Explanation

Classical Mechanics

Read Explanation

Electricity and Magnetism

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free