Light:

Properties of light
Properties and Characteristics
Carrier of information
Electromagnetic wave
Electromagnetic energy you can see Light is the region of the electromagnetic
spectrum that can be perceived by human
vision 0.7 um

January 8, 2002 PSYC202-005, Term 2, Copyright Jason Harrison 2002 1

Properties of light Properties of light

Travels in straight lines Reflects from surfaces

angle of incidence (qi)

=
angle of reflection (qr)

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Properties of Light Characteristics of Light
Refracts at boundaries of transparent materials Frequency (f)

sin (qi) = n sin (qr)

qi
air n is refractive index
of dense material
dense n 1.1 - 1.3
surface
medium qr (depends on material)
increasing time

Characteristics of Light Characteristics of Light

Frequency (f) Wavelength l= c/f

increasing time space

2
 Frequency corresponds to colour
- high frequency (short l) = blue (380 nm) Frequency corresponds to colour
- low frequency (long l) = red (720 nm)

Many frequencies arent seen by humans

- higher frequencies -> ultraviolet (UV)
- lower frequencies -> infrared (IR)

January 8, 2002 PSYC202-005, Term 2, Copyright Jason Harrison 2002 10

Electromagnetic Spectrum Absorption of light by atmosphere

January 8, 2002 PSYC202-005, Term 2, Copyright Jason Harrison 2002 11 January 8, 2002 From www.tvhandbook.com/graphics/pdf_files/chapter1_1.pdf
PSYC202-005, Term 2, Copyright Jason Harrison 2002 12

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 Absorption of light by water
Characteristics of Light
Amplitude (A)

Electric increasing time

Current
January 8, 2002 From http://www.karger.ch/gazette/64/fernald/
PSYC202-005, Term 2, Copyright Jason Harrison 2002 13

Characteristics of Light Amplitude determines intensity

Amplitude (A)
2
(Amplitude) = Energy/second = intensity
high amplitude = bright light
low amplitude = dim light

increasing time

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Finally
What was the purpose of this presentation?
Which question remains unanswered?
For Thursdays tutorial
Reading for tutorial:
Ramachandran and Blakeslee, chapter 1
Assignment due in tutorial:
www.cs.ubc.ca/~harrison/P202
For Next week
Reading for lecture: Gregory, Ch 4-5
Reading for tutorial: Rama, Ch 2

January 8, 2002 PSYC202-005, Term 2, Copyright Jason Harrison 2002 18