What type of light rays spread apart as if originating from a point?

Divergent rays are those that spread apart as if they originated from a single point. This concept is fundamental in optics, particularly in understanding how lenses and mirrors function. When light rays are emitted from a point source, they travel outward in all directions. If you visualize a light bulb, for example, the light rays emitted radiate outward, creating an expanding pattern; this is characteristic of divergent rays.

In optical physics, divergent rays are often illustrated with diagrams showing lines spreading from a common point. This is essential for explaining various optical phenomena, including how our eyes perceive images and how different optical devices manipulate light. Understanding this concept is crucial for practitioners in optics, as it informs lens design and light manipulation in various applications.

The other types of rays mentioned do not exhibit the same spreading pattern from a point. Convergent rays come together to a focal point, parallel rays maintain a uniform distance apart without spreading or converging, and reflected rays change direction based on the angle of incidence but do not emanate from a point. Thus, the understanding of divergent rays as spreading from a single origin point plays a pivotal role in optometry and the study of light behavior.