Vertex (optics)

Okay kiddo, imagine you have a toy car and you want to start a race with your friends. You need to choose a starting point for your car, right? Now, let's talk about light. Light is also like a toy car, but it moves super fast and you need to control it to make sure it goes where you want it to.

The point where the light starts moving in a different direction is called a vertex in optics. It's like the starting point for your toy car in the race. But instead of a physical point, it's the point where the light rays cross or converge, and then start moving in a different direction.

When the light passes through a surface, like a lens or a mirror, it changes direction. And that's where the vertex is formed. This point is important because it helps us understand how the light will behave and where it will end up after passing through the surface. It also helps us make precise calculations for things like eyeglasses or telescopes, to make sure the light is focused in the right place.

So next time you play with your toy car, think about the vertex of light and how it moves and changes direction!