What is Light?

Use Arial Font

 Luminous & Non-luminous
Objects
▪ Some objects such
as the sun, lamps
and candles make
their own light. We
call them
luminous
sources.
 Luminous & Non-luminous
Objects
▪ Most things you
see do NOT make
their own light but
reflect it from a
luminous source.
They are
non-luminous
objects.
What would earth be without sunlight?

▪ The sun emits lots of energy, just a very

small portion of it falls on earth and 45%
of that energy is in the form of visible
light.
The Nature & Properties of Light
1. Light travels at a very high speed
▪ 3.00x108 m/s is the speed of light in a
vacuum…it is considered one of the
fundamental constants of nature
▪ COOL FACT: something traveling at the
speed of light could travel around the
Earth 7.5 times in ONE SECOND
The Nature & Properties of Light

2. Light travels in
straight lines
through a material
The Nature & Properties of Light
▪ A “medium” = any physical substance
through which energy can be
transferred
▪ Examples: water, air, oil

3. Light can travel in the vacuum of

space, therefore it does not require a
medium to travel through
The Nature & Properties of Light
4. Light has properties of waves
 What is light?
▪ Light is a wave (PBS Studios) (6:00)
▪ Light energy is transferred through
radiation (ie. it travels as waves)
 What is light?
▪ Light is part of the ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM.
▪ Scientists have identified many different types of
electromagnetic radiation or parts to the
spectrum
▪ What is Light (2:48)
 Invisible Radiation
▪ Makes up the
entire
electromagnetic
spectrum except
for the visible
light spectrum
 Invisible Radiation
1) Radio Waves
▪ AM/FM radio
▪ TV signals
▪ Cell Phone communication
▪ Radar
▪ Astronomy (e.g. discovery of
pulsars)
▪ Body scanning at Airports
 Invisible Radiation
2) Microwaves
▪ Telecommunications
▪ Microwave ovens
▪ Astronomy (e.g,
background radiation
associated with the Big
Bang)
 Invisible Radiation
3) Infrared Light
▪ Remote controls
▪ Lasers
▪ Heat detection
▪ Keeping food warm
▪ Astronomy (e.g. discovering
the chemical composition of
celestial bodies)
▪ Physical therapy
 Invisible Radiation
4) Ultraviolet Light
▪ Tanning and sunburn to
skin
▪ Increases risk of skin
cancer
▪ Stimulates production of
vitamin D
▪ Kills bacteria in food and
water
 Invisible Radiation
4) Ultraviolet Light
▪ “black” lights
▪ Ultraviolet lasers
▪ Astronomy (e.g.
discovering the
chemical composition
of celestial bodies)
 Invisible Radiation
5) X-rays
▪ Medical imaging (e.g.
teeth and broken bones)
▪ Security equipment (e.g.
scanning of luggage at
airports)
▪ Cancer treatment
▪ Astronomy (e.g. study of
black holes)
 Invisible Radiation
6) Gamma Rays
▪ Cancer treatment
▪ Astronomy (e.g. study of
nuclear processes in the
universe)
▪ Product of some nuclear
decay
 Visible Radiation

1) Visible Light
▪ Visible light is any
electromagnetic
wave that the
human eye has
evolved to detect.
 The Colours Associated with
Visible Light
▪ Visible light is composed of a continuous
sequence of colours.
▪ This colour sequence is called the visible
spectrum.
 The Colours Associated with
Visible Light
▪ We can identify seven distinct colours:
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet
▪ We use the acronym ROYGBIV to help us
remember
 Activity: Looking At Light
▪ Spectroscope
▪ Various light sources:
▪ Sunlight (look out the window)
▪ Fluorescent bulb (ceiling lights)
▪ Incandescent bulb (front of room)
▪ Gas discharge tubes (front of room)
Activity: Looking At Light
Activity: Looking At Light
 Living Colour
▪ The Nature of Things episode: Living
Colour (45 min)