PROPAGATION OF LIGHT

(REFLECTION AND REFRACTION)

AS EXPLAINED BY THE WAVE AND
PARTICLE MODELS
Lesson 5
 INTRODUCTION

Q. What is true of light, is it a wave or a flow of extremely

small particles?
 INTRODUCTION

• Newton concluded in 1700 that light was a group of

particles (corpuscular theory) but at the same time,
others thought that it was a wave (wave theory).
 INTRODUCTION

RENE DESCARTES

• first who studied and explained the concept of

refraction
• He explained that refraction brought about the
formation of rainbows.
• He also explained the emergence of colors of light
through the concept of the plenum, the invisible
substance that permeated the universe.
 INTRODUCTION

SIR ISAAC NEWTON

• studied the emergence of colors of light through a

prism.
• He stated that the difference in refraction was due to
the differences in the mass of the colors of light
• the colors of light with different masses and inertia
will be deflected at varying degrees
INTRODUCTION
DUAL PROPERTY OF LIGHT (A WAVE AND A PARTICLE)

• Light can behave both as a wave and as a particle

REFLECTION AND REFRACTION
• Reflection and refraction are phenomena that are well-
explained by the behaviors of light.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
REFRACTION
PROPAGATION OF LIGHT

• Light is electromagnetic radiation that travels through space as vibrating

or oscillating waves.

• It is composed of alternating electric and magnetic fields that oscillate

perpendicular to each other to the direction of propagation.

• It travels at a speed of 300, 000, 000 m/s through a vacuum.

PROPAGATION OF LIGHT

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM