Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French rai, from Latin radius rod, ray

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French rai, from Latin radius rod, ray

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 a : any of the lines of [[light]] that [[appear]] to radiate from a bright object  

*1 a : any of the lines of [[light]] that [[appear]] to radiate from a bright object  

*6 : [[particle]], trace <a ray of [[hope]]>

*6 : [[particle]], trace <a ray of [[hope]]>

==Description==

==Description==

In [[optics]], a '''ray''' is an [[idealized]] narrow beam of [[light]]. Rays are used to [[model]] the propagation of light through an optical [[system]], by dividing the real light field up into discrete rays that can be [[computationally]] propagated through the system by the [[techniques]] of ray tracing. This allows even very [[complex]] [[optical]] [[systems]] to be [[analyzed]] [[mathematically]] or [[simulated]] by computer. Ray tracing uses approximate solutions to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s_equations Maxwell's equations] that are valid as long as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_wave light waves] propagate through and around objects whose [[dimensions]] are much greater than the light's wavelength. Ray [[theory]] does not describe [[phenomena]] such as [[interference]] and [[diffraction]], which require wave theory (involving the [[phase]] of the [[wave]]).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_(optics)]

In [[optics]], a '''ray''' is an [[idealized]] narrow beam of [[light]]. Rays are used to [[model]] the propagation of light through an optical [[system]], by dividing the real light field up into discrete rays that can be [[computationally]] propagated through the system by the [[techniques]] of ray tracing. This allows even very [[complex]] [[optical]] [[systems]] to be [[analyzed]] [[mathematically]] or [[simulated]] by computer. Ray tracing uses approximate solutions to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s_equations Maxwell's equations] that are valid as long as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_wave light waves] propagate through and around objects whose [[dimensions]] are much greater than the light's wavelength. Ray [[theory]] does not describe [[phenomena]] such as [[interference]] and [[diffraction]], which require wave theory (involving the [[phase]] of the [[wave]]).[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_(optics)]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Great Rays]]'''''

*'''''[[Great Rays]]'''''

[[Category: Physics]]

[[Category: Physics]]