NATURE OF LIGHT

Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation within the portion of the

electromagnetic spectrum that can be perceived by the human eye.[1] Visible
light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700
nanometers (nm), or 4.00 × 10−7 to 7.00 × 10−7 m, between the infrared (with
longer wavelengths) and the ultraviolet (with shorter wavelengths).[2][3] This
wavelength means a frequency range of roughly 430–750 terahertz (THz).

The main source of light on Earth is the Sun. Sunlight provides the energy that
green plants use to create sugars mostly in the form of starches, which release
energy into the living things that digest them. This process of photosynthesis
provides virtually all the energy used by living things. Historically, another
important source of light for humans has been fire, from ancient campfires to
modern kerosene lamps. With the development of electric lights and power
systems, electric lighting has effectively replaced firelight. Some species of
animals generate their own light, a process called bioluminescence. For
example, fireflies use light to locate mates, and vampire squids use it to hide from
prey.

Plato invented a theory of vision involving three streams of light: one from what
is being seen, one from the eyes, and one from the illuminating source.

He uses the image of the sun to help define the true meaning of the Good. The
Good "sheds light" on knowledge so that our minds can see true reality. Without
the Good, we would only be able to see with our physical eyes and not the
"mind's eye". The sun bequeaths its light so that we may see the world around us.
 PYTHAGORAS THEORY OF LIGHT

Pythagoras, best known for the theorem of the right-angled triangle, proposed
that vision resulted from light rays emerging from a person's eye and striking an
object. Epicurus argued the opposite: Objects produce light rays, which then
travel to the eye.

He believed that light originated from luminous bodies in the form of very fine
particles.

EMPEDOCLES

He devised a theory of natural selection; proposed that everything in existence

is made of different combinations of four elements: air, fire, wind, and earth;
recognized that air has weight; said that the speed of light is finite; and made a

statement equivalent to the modern law that mass is conserved in chemical

reactions.
 TWO THEORIES ON THE BASIC NATURE OF LIGHT
Wave Theory of Light
In the late 17th century, scientists were embroiled in a debate about the
fundamental nature of light – whether it was a wave or a particle. Sir Isaac
Newton was a strong advocate of the particle nature of light. But, the Dutch
physicist, Christiaan Huygens believed that light was made up of waves vibrating
up and down perpendicular to the direction of the wave propagation, and
therefore formulated a way of visualizing wave propagation. This became
known as ‘Huygens’ Principle‘.

The wave theory of light proposed by Christian Huygens has stood the test of
time and today, it is considered the backbones of optics. Here, in the article, let
us discuss the wave theory of light in detail.
 History of The Wave Theory Of Light
Light always piqued the curiosity of thinkers and scientists. But it wasn’t until
the late 17th century that scientists began to comprehend the properties of light.
Sir Isaac Newton proposed that light was made of tiny particles known as the
photons while Christian Huygens believed that light was made of waves
propagating perpendicular to the direction of its movement.

In 1678, Huygens proposed that "every point that a luminous disturbance meets
turns into a source of the spherical wave itself. The sum of the secondary waves,
which are the result of the disturbance, determines what form the new wave will
take." This theory of light is known as the ‘Huygens’ Principle’.

Using the above-stated principle, Huygens was successful in deriving the laws of
reflection and refraction of light. He was also successful in explaining the linear
and spherical propagation of light using this theory.

However, he wasn’t able to explain the diffraction effects of light. Later, in 1803,
the experiment conducted by Thomas Young on the interference of light proved
the Huygens wave theory of light to be correct. Later in 1815, Fresnel provided
mathematical equations for Young’s experiment.
Max Planck proposed that light is made of finite packets of energy known as a
light quantum and it depends on the frequency and velocity of light. Later, in
1905, Einstein proposed that light possessed the characteristics of both particle
and wave. He suggested that light is made of small particles called photons.
Quantum mechanics gave proof of the dual nature of light.

CORPUSCULAR OR EMISSION THEORY

Isaac Newton argued that the geometric nature of reflection and refraction of
light could only be explained if light were made of particles, referred to as
corpuscles because waves do not tend to travel in straight lines. Newton sought
to disprove Christiaan Huygens' theory that light was made of waves.
The corpuscular theory was largely developed by Isaac Newton. Newton's
theory was predominant for more than 100 years and took precedence over
Huygens' wave theory of light, partly because of Newton's great prestige.

When the corpuscular theory failed to adequately explain the diffraction,

interference and polarization of light it was abandoned in favour of Huygens'
wave theory. To some extent, Newton's corpuscular (particle) theory of light re-
emerged in the 20th century, as a light phenomenon is currently explained as
particle and wave.

Newton's corpuscular theory was an elaboration of his view of reality as

interactions of material points through forces. Note Albert Einstein's description
of Newton's conception of physical reality:

[Newton's] physical reality is characterised by concepts of space, time, the

material point and force (interaction between material points). Physical events
are to be thought of as movements according to law of material points in space.
The material point is the only representative of reality in so far as it is subject to
change. The concept of the material point is obviously due to observable
bodies; one conceived of the material point on the analogy of movable bodies
by omitting characteristics of extension, form, spatial locality, and all their 'inner'
qualities, retaining only inertia, translation, and the additional concept of force.

1. Every source of light emits large numbers of tiny particles known as

corpuscles in a medium surrounding the source.
2. These corpuscles are perfectly elastic, rigid, and weightless.

Corpuscular Theory
Corpuscular theories, or corpuscularianism, are similar to the theories of atomism,
except that in atomism the atoms were supposed to be indivisible, whereas
corpuscles could in principle be divided. Corpuscles are single, infinitesimally
small, particles which have shape, size, colour, and other physical properties
which alter their functions and effects in phenomena in the mechanical and
biological sciences.

This later led to the modern idea that compounds have secondary properties
different from the elements of those compounds. Gassendi asserts that
corpuscles are particles that carry other substance or substances and are of
different types. These corpuscles are also emissions from various sources such as
solar entities, animals or plants. Robert Boyle was a strong proponent of
corpuscularianism and used the theory to exemplify the differences between a
vacuum and a plenum, by which he aimed to further support his mechanical
philosophy and overall atomist theory.

About a half-century after Gassendi, Isaac Newton used existing corpuscular

theories to develop his particle theory of the physics of light.

Isaac Newton argued that the geometric nature of reflection and refraction of
light could only be explained if light were made of particles, referred to as
corpuscles because waves do not tend to travel in straight lines.

Newton sought to disprove Christiaan Huygens' theory that light was made of
waves. In his 44th trial in a series of experiments concerning physics of light, he
concluded that light is made of particles and not waves by having passed a
beam of white light through two prisms which were held at such an angle that
the light split into a spectrum after passing through the first prism and then was
recomposed, back into white light, by the second prism.
REFERENCES
https://youtu.be/BUYeQa_-ojk
https://youtu.be/OQ6kWit51fA
https://youtu.be/iy02Cmc4StU
https://youtu.be/uO2uyvf-E3k
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light
https://physics.info/light/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpuscular_theory_of_light
https://byjus.com/physics/wave-theory-of-light/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-wave-theory-of-light-
definition-evidence.html