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11.4: Accessible Descriptions

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    52334
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    Figure 11.2.1: Reflection and Refraction of light

    Partial diagram illustrating refraction at a flat boundary between two media. A straight interface separates regions, with a normal line drawn perpendicular at the point where a light ray meets the boundary. The incident ray approaches the boundary and changes direction as it enters the second medium. The transmitted path is labeled “refracted ray,” and the angle between this ray and the normal is marked as θᵣ. The layout emphasizes how the ray bends relative to the normal when crossing the boundary.

    Figure 11.2.2: Rainbow Components

    Multi-panel diagram explaining how rainbows form through refraction and internal reflection in raindrops.

    Top left panel: A spherical raindrop (1) shows a beam of incoming light separated into components (8) entering the drop. At the surface, the light bends (4), travels داخل the drop, reflects off the inner surface, and bends again as it exits at two labeled points (2). The paths illustrate dispersion into different components as the light changes direction at each interaction with the boundary.

    Top right panel: A second raindrop (1) shows an alternate path. A beam (6) enters the drop, bends at the surface, reflects once inside (4), and exits at a different location (2). The surrounding region (7) represents the medium outside the drop. This panel emphasizes how varying entry and exit points affect the outgoing light paths.

    Bottom panel: An observer (9) stands on the ground while multiple incoming parallel light rays (12) approach and interact with raindrops. The rays bend upon entering and exiting the drops and reflect internally, forming concentrated outgoing paths (10, 11) directed toward the observer. These paths create two arcs: the primary rainbow (3), formed by one internal reflection, and the secondary rainbow (5), formed by two internal reflections. The diagram highlights how specific angles of emerging light relative to the observer produce visible rainbow arcs.


    This page titled 11.4: Accessible Descriptions was last modified on Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:08:03 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Neel Desai and Alicia Mullens.

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