Ray Optics
Ray optics, also known as geometrical optics, studies how light behaves when it travels in straight lines. This approach simplifies the complexity of light by treating it as rays, which helps us understand how light reflects off surfaces or refracts (bends) when passing through different materials. While it does not account for the wave nature of light, it effectively explains phenomena like mirrors, lenses, and shadows. Ray optics is particularly useful in designing optical devices like glasses and cameras, where predicting the path of light is crucial for their functionality.
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Ray optics, also known as geometric optics, is the study of light propagation in terms of rays. It treats light as straight lines that travel in predictable paths, enabling the analysis of how light interacts with surfaces, such as reflection and refraction. Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, while refraction involves the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, like air to water. Ray optics helps explain the behavior of lenses and mirrors, making it essential for understanding devices like glasses, cameras, and microscopes.