Light

Form of energy derived from the Sun

electromagnetic radiation within a certain portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum
refers to visible light, which is visible to the human eye and is responsible
for the sense of sight
Light as Wave
Crest- the highest point of a wave
Trough- lowest point of the wave
Amplitude- the height of the wave
Frequency- the number of waves traveling in space in a given
period of time.
 Light As Wave
A. Wavelength
distance between corresponding points of two consecutive waves

B. Frequency
number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time

C. Energy
The waves can pass through the object

The waves can be reflected off the object.

The waves can be scattered off the object.

The waves can be absorbed by the object.

The waves can be refracted through the object.

Properties of Light: REFLECTION

- occurs when light bounces back as it hits a reflecting surface, such

as a mirror. This phenomenon can be described using light rays.

Incident ray- ray of light that hits the reflecting

surface
Reflected ray- ray that bounces after hitting the
surface
Normal line- line perpendicular to the reflecting
surface
Angle of Incidence- the angle between the incident
ray and the normal line
Angle of Reflection- the angle between the reflected
ray and the normal line
Law of Reflection
This law states that:
the angle of incidence, the angle of
reflection, and the normal line are
found on the same plane;
the angle of incidence is equal to the
angle of reflection;
The reflected ray and the incident ray
are on the opposite sides of the
normal.
Properties of Light: REFRACTION
-is the bending of light due to the change in its speed when it obliquely
passes two different media.

Light travels from less dense medium(air) Light travels from denser medium(glass)
to denser medium (glass), the light bends to less dense medium (air), the light bends
toward the normal line. away the normal line.
 Where does light travel fastest?
Index of Refraction- the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed in
another substance.
Speed of light in a vacuum: 3.0108 m/s
 Solve the following:

What is the index of refraction of water if the speed

of light in water is 1.2510^8m/s?

What is the speed of light in diamond if the index of

refraction of diamond is2.4?
CONCEPT:
Higher index of refraction= higher the density of the
substance=slower the speed of light in the substance

Lower index of refraction=lower the density of the

substance= the faster the speed of light in the substance
Index of Refraction
Vacuum 1.00000
Air at STP 1.00029
Ice 1.31
Water at 20 C 1.33
Law of Refraction
This law states that:
The incident ray, reflected ray
and the normal line are all in the
same plane.
The index refraction for a
particular substance is always
constant.
When a ray of light passes at an
angle from a lesser to greater
density, it bend towards the
normal. Conversely, a ray of light
passing an angle from a denser
medium to a lesser medium, it
bents away from the normal ray.
 refers to the apparent bending of waves around small
obstacles and the spreading out of waves past small
openings
 the phenomenon of splitting of
a beam of white light into its
seven constituent colours when
passed through a transparent
medium

Spectrum is a band of seven

colours which is obtained by
splitting of white light by a
glass prism
 The absorption of light occurs when a ray of light
strikes a surface. The energy from the light is
transferred to the surface material.
 The colour an object appears depends on the colours of light it
reflects.

For example, a red book only reflects red light:

White Only red light is

light reflected
A white hat would reflect all seven
colours:
White
light