UNIT

4 The Wave Nature of Light

oVerall
eXpectations
• analyze technologies that use the
wave nature of light, and assess
their impact on society and the
environment
• investigate, in qualitative and
quantitative terms, the properties
of waves and light, and solve
related problems
• demonstrate an understanding of
the properties of waves and light
in relation to diffraction, refraction,
interference, and polarization

Big ideas
• Light has properties that are similar
to the properties of mechanical
waves.
• The behaviour of light as a wave
can be described mathematically.
• Technologies that use the principles
of the wave nature of light can
have societal and environmental
implications.

UNIT TASK PrEVIEW

The goal of the Unit Task is to use the knowledge gained in this
unit to analyze digital media. The Unit Task is described in detail
on page 556. As you work through the unit, look for Unit Task
Bookmarks to see how information in the section relates to the
Unit Task.

434 Unit 4 • The Wave Nature of Light NEL

8160_CH09_p434-469.indd 434 4/30/12 9:46 AM

 Focus on STSE

light and interference

A hummingbird is one of the most colourful animals in nature. If you have ever watched a
hummingbird, you might have noticed how, when viewed from different angles, the hum-
mingbird’s colour seems to change. Hummingbird feathers have specialized cells, or plate-
lets, on their top layers that act as prisms. These prisms split white light into many different
colours. This phenomenon is called iridescence. What causes a hummingbird’s iridescent
coloration? It is partly caused by light passing through the platelets. The birds typically have
8 to 10 top layers of these feathers, stacked on top of each other. This stacking tends to
intensify and purify the resulting colour.
An iridescent object appears to change colour as your angle of view of the object
changes. Many other insects and animals have iridescent features, such as the wings of
dragonflies, the shells of beetles, and the eyes of many nocturnal animals. The eerie glow
of a house cat’s eyes in a photograph occurs because of iridescence due to structures
that improve the cat’s night vision. For hummingbirds, and other birds such as peacocks,
the iridescent feathers play a part during courting and mating. The male hummingbirds
display their colourful throats in an attempt to attract female hummingbirds, which do not
display as much iridescence.
Iridescence is not found in insects and animals only—you can observe it in everyday
situations. Think about the soap bubbles created when washing dishes or blowing soap
bubbles using a bubble wand. As you blow bubbles, you can observe the colours on the
bubble’s surface change as the bubbles change in shape and size. The iridescent prop-
erties of the bubbles, like the brilliant colours of the hummingbird feathers, are a result
of the light reflecting from the bubble’s surface. Different surfaces, viewing angles, and
thicknesses result in different colours.
We are able to see different colours because different surfaces reflect, refract, and
absorb white light in different ways. For example, when an object absorbs all wavelengths
of light, you perceive this object as black. No light is reflected. The colour of an object
is not a part of the object, but rather depends on which wavelengths of light that object
reflects and absorbs. A green grape is not made up of the colour green, but rather reflects
a wavelength of light that appears green to the observer, and all other visible wavelengths
of light are absorbed. The wave properties of light affect how we see colours, shapes,
and textures.
Questions
1. What do you think might happen to the appearance of a hummingbird’s feathers if
you viewed the feathers under a fluorescent light instead of natural sunlight?

2. Why do you think the angle from which a hummingbird is viewed affects the colour
that you see?

3. Can you think of other everyday scenarios where you might see a colourful pattern
similar to the examples discussed?

4. What role do you think is played by (a) refraction, (b) reflection, and (c) interference
in the phenomenon of iridescence?

NEL Focus on STSE   435

8160_CH09_p434-469.indd 435 4/30/12 9:46 AM

 unit 4  Are you ready?

Concepts Skills
• energy transfer through waves • planning investigations
• wave characteristics • solving algebraic equations for one or two unknowns
• the universal wave equation • interpreting graphs
• index of refraction • communicating scientific information clearly
• total internal reflection and accurately through words and diagrams
• electromagnetic spectrum
• interference

Concepts Review 8. Which graph shows the relationship between

wavelength and frequency for sound waves that travel
1. Use words and a diagram to explain interference. Explain
at constant speed?  K/U
why only waves, and not particles, can interfere.  K/U C
2. (a) Describe total internal reflection. (a)
(b) What are the conditions under which total internal

Wavelength
reflection takes place?
(c) Discuss two cases that illustrate this phenomenon. 
K/U C A

3. Explain why an empty test tube dipped into water in

a beaker appears silvery when viewed from a certain Frequency
direction.  T/I A
4. List two everyday devices that use electromagnetic (b)
waves. (Hint: Which technologies rely on transmission
Wavelength

towers?)  K/U C
5. Theories and experiments are two very different
methods used in scientific research.  K/U C
(a) Explain the difference between theory and
Frequency
experiment in science.
(b) Discuss why both theory and experiment are useful
in researching the wave nature of light. (c)
Wavelength

6. Which statement is true of a transverse wave travelling

along a string toward an end that is free to move?  K/U
(a) The wave will be reflected with a phase change of
half a wavelength.
(b) The wave will not be reflected. Frequency
(c) The wave will be reflected with no change of phase.
(d) The wave will be reflected with a phase change of a
quarter wavelength. Skills Review
7. Describe the direction in which a ray of light bends as 9. Identify the parts of the wave labelled in Figure 1.  K/U

it travels
(a) from air into diamond A
B
(b) from water into air
(c) normal to the interface of two media  K/U

C
D

Figure 1

436   Unit 4 • The Wave Nature of Light NEL

8160_CH09_p434-469.indd 436 4/30/12 9:46 AM

 10. Explain how you would measure the wavelength and 16. Determine the minimum and maximum wavelengths
amplitude of the wave in Figure 2. If you could watch of sound in water that is within the audible range
the wave over time, explain how you would measure 20 Hz–20 000 Hz for an average human ear. Th e speed
its period and frequency. K/u T/I C of sound in water is approximately 1496 m/s. T/I
17. Calculate the frequency of radio waves transmitted
by a radio station when the wavelength of the
wave waves is 300 m. Th e speed of radio waves in air
direction is 3.0 3 108 m/s. T/I
Figure 2 18. A source is producing 15 wavelengths in 3.0 s.
11. A swimming pool pump generates 10 water waves Th e distance between a crest and a trough is 10 cm.
every 15 s. T/I C Calculate
(a) Determine the frequency of the waves. (a) the frequency
(b) When the wave crests are separated by 2.0 m, (b) the wavelength
determine the speed of the waves. (c) the speed of the wave T/I
(c) Predict what will happen as two wave crests 19. Th e vibrating end of the standing wave in Figure 4
interfere near the middle of the pool. makes 25 complete vibrations in one minute. Calculate
12. Figure 3 shows a ray of light travelling from air into a (a) the wavelength of the waves and (b) the speed of
glass block. Copy the fi gure into your notebook. K/u C the waves. T/I
(a) Draw the normal and the refl ected light ray.
(b) Draw the general direction of the refracted light vibrating end fixed end
ray. Is it toward the normal, away from the normal, 0.75 m
or along the normal?
1.5 m

Figure 4
20. Th e index of refraction for glass is 1.5. Calculate the
air speed of light in glass. T/I
glass 21. Solve each system of linear equations for the variables
Figure 3 x and y. T/I
(a) 3x - y 5 -2; -5x 1 2y 5 6
13. Green light has a frequency of 5.70 3 1014 Hz. Use the
universal wave equation to calculate the wavelength, (b) 2x 1 3y 5 -1; -3x - 5y 5 4
in nanometres, of green light. Th
e speed of light in a 22. List two safe laboratory practices to observe when
vacuum is 3.0 3 108 m/s. T/I performing investigations that involve light. K/u
14. Solve each equation for the variable x. T/I 23. Suppose your teacher has given you a ripple tank, a
1 4 metre stick, and a marble. Describe how you could use
(a) ax 2 b a b 5 1 these items to determine the period, frequency, speed,
2 3
and wavelength of a water wave. K/u T/I
1 x
(b) a8 2 b a b 5 1
2 14
(c) 1.1 sin 608 5 1.66 sin x CAREER PATHWAYS PrEVIEW

1.47 478 Throughout this unit, you will see Career Links. Go to the Nelson
(d) 5
1.33 x Science website to find information about careers related to
15. Solve for u in the following equations. K/u T/I The Wave Nature of Light. On the Chapter Summary page at the
end of each chapter, you will find a Career Pathways feature that
1 x
(a) sin u 5 an 2 b , shows you the educational requirements of the careers. There are
2 y also some career-related questions for you to research.
where n 5 2, x 5 5.1 3 1027, and y 5 8.0 3 1026
sin u1 n2
(b) 5 ,
sin u n1
where u1 5 27.08, n1 5 1.00, and n2 5 1.35

NEL Are You Ready? 437

8160_CH09_p434-469.indd 437 4/30/12 9:46 AM