Physics · Glossary

What is Light ray; homogeneous medium?

Definition 2.1 University Physics — Year 1 · Chapter 2 — Geometric Optics: Rays, Reflection, Refraction

In the model of geometric optics, light propagates along light rays: oriented curves that are straight lines in a homogeneous medium (same properties at every point) and that carry energy independently of one another. A beam is a bundle of rays; a point source emits rays in every direction.

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