optical phenomenon

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Noun

optical phenomenon - a physical phenomenon related to or involving light

physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy

optical aberration, aberration, distortion - an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image

absorption band - a dark band in the spectrum of white light that has been transmitted through a substance that exhibits absorption at selective wavelengths

diffraction - when light passes sharp edges or goes through narrow slits the rays are deflected and produce fringes of light and dark bands

interference fringe, fringe - one of the light or dark bands produced by the interference and diffraction of light

incidence - the striking of a light beam on a surface; "he measured the angle of incidence of the reflected light"

optical illusion - an optical phenomenon that results in a false or deceptive visual impression

pleochroism - the phenomenon of different colors appearing when certain crystals are viewed from different directions

polarization, polarisation - the phenomenon in which waves of light or other radiation are restricted in direction of vibration

parallax - the apparent displacement of an object as seen from two different points that are not on a line with the object

Tyndall effect - the phenomenon in which light is scattered by very small particles in its path; it makes a beam of light visible; the scattered light is mainly blue

References in classic literature ?

"It is merely the effect of the MIRAGE," said the doctor, "and nothing else--a simple optical phenomenon due to the unequal refraction of light by different layers of the atmosphere, and that is all.

View in context

The museum contains 11 halls which recount the history of optics and modern technologies, each exhibit illustrates a particular optical phenomenon.

Russia's Optical Museum: a blend of education and entertainment

Made from sustainable materials, the collection is named after the 42nd degree, the height of the sun that makes this extraordinary optical phenomenon visible.

Wear Your Pride

The Taitung Weather Station said that a "halo" is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that can occur around the sun or moon and is visible as a wheel of light.

Eastern Taiwan residents amazed by solar halo

To overcome this limitation, the scientists used an optical phenomenon called diffraction to measure the stars diameter.

Germany : Asteroids help scientists to measure the diameters of far away stars

The sensor works based on an optical phenomenon -- a plasmon -- which occurs when metal nanoparticles are illuminated and capture visible light.

World's fastest hydrogen sensor could pave the way for clean energy

The Sagnac effect, named after French physicist Georges Sagnac, is an optical phenomenon rooted in Einstein's theory of general relativity.

World's Smallest Optical Gyroscope

The students acknowledged that this learning activity caused them to think about the theory of light reflection when they observed the optical phenomenon. One group of students expressed that they were immersed in the phenomena of light reflection, and that such learning context was authentic; hence, they could play a role in the phenomena and change the phenomena, which caused them to reflect.

Innovative Use of Mobile Video Conferencing in Face-to-Face Collaborative Science Learning: The Case of Reflection in Optics

The technical term for an upsidedown rainbow is a circumzenithal arc, an optical phenomenon which occurs much higher in the sky than normal rainbows.

Nice day for a smile in the sky

The technical term for an upside-down rainbow is a circumzenithal arc, an optical phenomenon which occurs much higher in the sky than normal rainbows.

Did you see this 'upside-down rainbow' in the Newcastle sky? The uncommon phenomenon, known as a circumzenithal arc, was pictured over Walker on Saturday evening; The uncommon phenomenon, known as a circumzenithal arc, was pictured over Walker on Saturday evening

Scientists said a sun halo is a natural optical phenomenon where light reflects tiny ice circles in the lowest level clouds.

Sun surrounded by halo of light mesmerizes Bohol folk

The 'Sun Dog' optical frame is named after the rare atmospheric optical phenomenon of two bright fields appearing to the left and right of the sun.