G RO UP 6

03/02/20
 CONTENTS

NUMBER 1 NUMBER 2 NUMBER 3

NUMBER 4 NUMBER 5
1
Describe how the propagati
on of light, reflection, and r
efraction are explained by t
NUMBER ONE he wave model and particle
model of light.
OBSERVATION Particle/Corpuscular
Model of Light
Rectilinear Sharp shadows and “rays”
through holes in cloud cover
Propagation support the concept of
of light rectilinear propagation.
Light must move fast as it is
unnoticeably affected by
gravity. Newton argues that
the mass of these particles is
small because they don’t
produce a pressure despite
the great speed that they
impact matter. This supports
the particle model.
Wave Model
of Light
Waves may not follow a straight
path but circular wave fronts do.
This was the essence of Huygens’
Principle. Every point on a
wavefront can be considered a point
source of tiny secondary wavelets
that spread out at the same speed of
the wave itself. The surface
“envelope”, tangent to all of the
wavelets, constitutes the new wave
front. Rays (direction of wavefronts)
travel in straight lines. This supports
the wave model.
The property of light travelling in a straight line is called a
s the  rectilinear propagation of light .
A light source can be seen only if there is a straight-line p
ath between the source and our eyes.
Examples:
Sunrays entering a dark room through a small opening ap
pear to travel in a straight line. IMAGE

Light from torch, headlights of cars, etc. appears to travel

in a straight line. IMAGE
Light from a projector travels in a straight line in the form
of light rays towards the screen. IMAGE

Light emitted from a laser pointer appears to travel in a st

raight line. IMAGE

 
OBSERVATION Particle/Corpuscular Wave Model
Model of Light of Light

Reflection Particles Waves obviously reflect.

SEE RAY DIAGRAM bounce/reflect off a This does
wall following the support the wave model.
laws of reflection.
This supports the
particle model.
OBSERVATION Particle/Corpuscular Wave Model
Model of Light of Light

Refraction Newton showed that Huygens’ accurately

SEE RAY DIAGRAM
particles can refract predicted that
when changing speed. light would bend the
But Newton’s model
appropriate way
predicts that light moves
faster in water and when it entered a new
slower in air. This medium. This
eventually will not supports the wave model.
support the particle
model.
 Explain how the photon the

2
ory of light accounts for ato
mic spectra.
NUMBER TWO
 When an electron jumps from a low energy l
evel to a higher level, the electron will absorb
a photon of a particular wavelength. Since the
electrons only absorb light of certain frequenc
ies, the absorption spectrum will show up as a
series of black bands on an otherwise continuo
us spectrum.

3/7/20 9
 Explain how the photon concept an

3
d t h e f a c t t h a t t h e e n e rg y o f a p h o t
on is directly proportional to its fr
equency can be used to explain wh
y red light is used in photographic
NUMBER THREE dark rooms, why we get easily sun
burned in ultraviolet...
 PHOTO ENERGY IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO ITS FREQUENCY

• WHY WE GET EASILY SUNBURNED IN ULTRAVIOLET LIG

HT BUT NOT IN VISIBLE LIGHT?
• Ultraviolet (UV) light is just a higher energy version of the light we see (vi
sible light). And it's that higher energy that makes the UV in sunlight dam
aging to our cells and tissues.
• The photons in visible light simply do not carry enough energy to do dama
ge to your skin, Ultraviolet light is higher energy and it has enough energ
y to break chemical bonds in your skin, which cause damage. Visible phot
ons are lower energy (on average about half the energy of ultraviolet phot
ons, though this would depend on color) and do not have enough energy t
o break chemical bonds in your skin.
• SEE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
-Red light is used in dark rooms because it falls within the
visible region of the spectrum and it is known to have the l
ongest wavelengths, this causes it to have low frequency a
s well as low energy. In turn, all this means that it will not
affect the photo during the process of development.
HOW WE SEE COLORS?
IF LIGHT HITS AN OBJECT WITH A CERTAIN WAVELENGTH , AND
ARE REFLECTED AND OTHERS ABSORBED. THE REFLECTED WA
VELENGTHS ARE THE ONES WE SEE.
The different wavelengths of light are what define which colors we se
e. 
The human eye sees color over wavelengths ranging roughly from 40
0 nanometers (violet) to 700 nanometers (red). Light from 400–700 n
anometers (nm) is called visible light, or the visible spectrum, becaus
e humans can see it. Light outside this range may be visible to other
organisms but cannot be perceived by the human eye.
 Apply the wavelength-spee

4
d-frequency relation.

NUMBER FOUR
-Wave speed is the distance a wave travels in a given a
mount of time, such as the number of meters it travels p
er second. Wave speed is related to wavelength and wav
e frequency by the equation: Speed = Wavelength x Fre
quency. This equation can be used to calculate wave spe
ed when wavelength and frequency are known.

3/7/20 15
Bill counts 5 waves on a pond in 10 s. The distance
between them is 80 cm. What is their speed?
5 waves in 10 s. Distance between is 80 cm. Speed?
is their speed?

frequency = 5/10 = 0·5 Hz.

speed = frequency × wavelength = 0·5 × 80 = 40 cm/s
 Cite experimental evidence

5
NUMBER FIVE
showing that electrons can
behave like waves .
When electrons pass through a double slit and strike a screen behind the slits, an
interference pattern of bright and dark bands is formed on the screen. This proves that
electrons act like waves, at least while they are propagating (traveling) through the slits
and to the screen. When an electron hits the screen, it produces a flash of light at just
one place on the screen. The bright and dark bands are the result of the flashes of light
produced by many electrons hitting the screen. Note that "hitting the screen" is an
interaction, and the electron therefore acts like a particle with a definite position when it
hits.
“
T HANKS
END
GO BACK
GO BACK
GO BACK
GO BACK

Law of Reflection:
The angle of incidence
Is equal to the angle of reflection
GO BACK
The angle of incidence
is the angle between a
light ray and the normal
when the ray hits the
surface(directed towards
the surface)
The angle of reflection is
the angle between a light
ray and the normal when
the ray leaves the
surface(directed away from
the surface)
GO BACK
GO BACK