Properties of Light

Reflection
bouncing back of wave as it hits a barrier
bouncing of light from a reflecting surface
Two kinds of reflection
1. specular/regular reflection
-when light strikes a smooth, flat and shiny
surface, it is reflected in one direction
-created clear image
-formation of image in a mirror, clear water
2. diffuse reflection
-when light hits a rough, uneven surface, it
bounces back to different directions
-created irregular image
1. Incident ray – the ray of light approaching the
mirror
2. Reflected ray – the ray of light which leaves
the mirror
3. Normal line – an imaginary line perpendicular
to the surface of the mirror
4. incidence - formed by the incident ray and the
normal line;
5. - formed by the reflected ray and the normal
line;
Laws of Reflection

1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle

of reflection.

2. Incident ray, reflected ray and the normal

line lie on the same plane.
 Problem Solving
1. A ray of light strikes a mirror at an of 530 to
the normal line.
a. What is the angle of reflection?
b. What is the between the incident ray and the
reflected ray?
2. A ray of light incident upon a mirror makes an
of 360 with the mirror. What is the between the
incident and the reflected ray?
 Refraction
Bending of light as it passes from one medium to another
Light bends due to change in speed and direction
Ex.
As light travels from air to glass where glass is more
optically dense, light travels slower; the refracted ray bends
towards the normal line.
As light travels from glass to air where air is less optically
dense, light travels faster; the refracted ray bends away from
the normal
Twinkling of stars in a clear sky.
Pool of water appears to be less deep than what it
actually is.
Rainbow formation in the sky.
Camera lenses.
Glasses
1. Incident ray – ray of light approaching the
boundary of two media
2. Refracted ray – ray that enters a new medium
3. Boundary / interface – refracting surface
4. < of incidence - < b/w normal line and incident
ray
5. < of refraction - < b/w normal line and refracted
ray
 Dispersion
separation of white light into colors due to
differences in degrees of refraction due to prism
Red – longest wavelength bends the least
Violet – shortest wavelength bends the most
Ex. Rainbow formation
drop of rain water acts as prism
1. Refraction
2. Internal reflection
 Diffraction
bending of waves around the edge or corner of a barrier or
through openings
also called scattering
The amount of diffraction or the sharpness of bending depends
on:
1.Wavelength – longer λ, greater diffraction
2. Size of the opening – smaller the gap, higher diffraction
If the opening is larger than λ,smaller bending; almost
unnoticeable
If the two are equal, greater bending
Huygen’s Principle
when wave meets a very small obstacle with an
edge in its path, it goes around the barrier

Ex. of Diffraction
silver lining around the edges of clouds of
coronas surrounding the moon or sun
 Interference
meeting of waves as they travel along the same
medium
superposition of light waves
optical interference
fringes – dark or lighter band that resulted when
light waves come together
 Types of Interference
Constructive interference – occurs when crest meets
another crest producing a larger and stronger wave;
produces brighter light so we see light bands
Destructive Interference – when a wave’s crest meets
another wave’s trough; waves cancel out each other;
produces dark bands
Ex. Soap bubble
light brighter bands of colors – CI
dark bands – DI
Thomas Young’s Double Slit Experiment
he made sunlight pass through long parallel
slits; resulted to fringes or bands of colors
 Polarization
describes the orientation of the vibrations of light
differentiates an EM wave from mechanical wave
Ex. of Polarization
Polaroid sunglasses
Windshield
Rear view mirrors
**designed to cut out reflected glare
 Assessment
1. When catching fish, fisherman aims his spear below
the image of the fish
2. A pencil seems crooked when dip in a glass of water
3. Buildings have glass curtain walls tinted with metallic
coatings to keep out the sun’s heat
4. A laser beam scatters after passing through a small slit
5. Formation of band of colors in soap bubbles
6. Use of dark glasses to cut out reflected glare
7. Silver lining found on edges of clouds
8. Corona surrounding the moon or sun
9. Rainbow formation
10. Rainbow effect on oil or gasoline