Questions With Detailed Answers
2026/2027 Update.
Wavelength - Answer the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the
next.
Amplitude - Answer the height of a wave's crest
Frequency - Answer The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain
amount of time
Reflection - Answer The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface through which it
cannot pass.
Absorbance - Answer The amount of light absorbed by a sample
Transmittance - Answer The passing of light through a sample
Interference - Answer the interaction between waves that meet
Diffraction - Answer light waves can also interact with small objects by bending or scattering
Refraction - Answer when light waves change direction as they enter a new medium
refractive index - Answer the extent to which a material slows transmission speed relative to
empty space
image point (focus) - Answer the location where all of the light that strikes a lens and refracts
is met at a single point
focal point - Answer the image point when light entering the lens is parallel
focal length - Answer the distance to the focal point
Dispersion - Answer the separation of light into colors arranged according to their frequency
, phosphorescence - Answer light emitted by a substance without combustion or perceptible
heat
magnification - Answer the ability of a lens to enlarge the image of an object when compared
to the real object
resolution - Answer the ability to tell that two separate points or objects are separate
numerical aperture - Answer measure of a lens ability to "capture" light coming from the
specimen and use it to make the image
compound microscope - Answer a light microscope that uses more than one lens to magnify
an object
simple microscope - Answer a microscope that contains only one lens
brightfield microscope - Answer a microscope that allows light rays to pass directly to the eye
without being deflected by an intervening opaque plate in the condenser
monocular - Answer having a single eyepiece
binocular - Answer having two eyepieces
ocular lens - Answer Eyepiece of a microscope
objective lenses - Answer these are found on the nosepiece and range from low to high power
total magnification - Answer objective lens x ocular lens
stage - Answer Supports the slide being viewed
x-y mechanical stage knobs - Answer move the slide
coarse focus knob - Answer Brings an object into focus at low or medium power