Optics for Science Olympiad
Reflection and Refraction:
Specular vs. Diffuse Reflection:
Specular Reflection occurs when light reflects off a smooth surface (like a mirror) in a single
direction, with each light ray having the same angle of incidence and reflection. The angle of
incidence equals the angle of reflection.
Diffuse Reflection happens when light reflects off a rough surface, scattering light in many
directions.
How to Solve:
For specular reflection, use the Law of Reflection: the angle of incidence equals the angle of
reflection. The key step is to identify the angle formed between the incident ray and the
normal to the surface.
For diffuse reflection, recognize that the surface is rough, causing scattered light rays. This
typically doesn't require calculation but focuses on understanding the difference in light
behavior.
Law of Reflection:
How to Solve:
Identify the angle of incidence, which is the angle between the incident ray and the normal
to the surface.
Apply the Law of Reflection:
θᵢ = θʳ
where θᵢ is the angle of incidence and θʳ is the angle of reflection.
Index of Refraction (n):
How to Solve:
If given the refractive index of a medium and the speed of light in that medium, calculate the
index of refraction using:
n=c/v
where c is the speed of light in a vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the medium.
To solve, rearrange this equation to solve for v if needed:
v=c/n
Snell’s Law (Refraction):
How to Solve:
Use Snell’s Law:
n₁ sin(θ₁) = n₂ sin(θ₂)
where n₁ and n₂ are the indices of refraction of the two media, and θ₁ and θ₂ are the angles
of incidence and refraction, respectively.
Rearrange the equation to solve for the unknown angle. For example, if you're asked to find
the angle of refraction, solve for θ₂ as follows:
θ₂ = sin⁻¹(n₁ sin(θ₁) / n₂)
Critical Angle:
How to Solve:
If light is passing from a denser medium (higher refractive index) to a less dense medium
(lower refractive index), use the formula for the critical angle:
θc = sin⁻¹(n₂ / n₁)
where n₁ and n₂ are the refractive indices of the two media.
To solve, plug in the values for n₁ and n₂ to find the critical angle.
Prisms (Deviation & Dispersion):
How to Solve:
Deviation: The angle by which light is deviated after passing through the prism depends on
the prism angle and the refractive index.
Use the following formula for deviation (D):
D = (θ₁ + θ₂) - A
where A is the prism angle, and θ₁ and θ₂ are the angles of refraction at the two surfaces of
the prism.
Dispersion: This involves the separation of different colors. Light of different wavelengths
refracts by different amounts due to varying refractive indices.
Mirrors & Lenses:
Types of Mirrors & Lenses:
How to Solve:
Recognize the type of mirror/lens in the problem and determine the properties:
Concave Mirror: Converges light; real images if the object is outside the focal point.
Convex Mirror: Diverges light; always forms virtual, upright images.
Concave Lens: Diverges light; always forms virtual, upright images.
Convex Lens: Converges light; forms real or virtual images depending on the object’s
distance.
Ray Tracing:
How to Solve:
For concave mirrors:
1. Draw a ray parallel to the principal axis; it reflects through the focal point.
2. Draw a ray passing through the center of curvature; it reflects back on itself.
3. Draw the reflected rays to find the image location and determine whether it is
real/virtual, erect/inverted.
Repeat similar steps for convex mirrors and lenses, adjusting for their respective properties
(diverging or converging rays).
Focal Length (f):
How to Solve:
Use the mirror or lens equation to solve for the focal length or image/object distance:
1/f = 1/dₒ + 1/dᵢ
where dₒ is the object distance, dᵢ is the image distance, and f is the focal length.
Real, Virtual, Erect, and Inverted Objects & Images:
How to Solve:
Use ray diagrams and the mirror or lens equation to determine whether the image is real or
virtual, and if it is erect or inverted. A positive dᵢ indicates a real image (inverted), while a
negative dᵢ indicates a virtual image (erect).
Magnification (M):
How to Solve:
Use the magnification equation:
M = -dᵢ / dₒ
This gives the magnification factor, and a positive value indicates an erect image, while a
negative value indicates an inverted image.
