SOURCES OF LIGHT Year 9 Physics

LEARNING INTENTIONS

 Know that the Earth’s source of light comes from the sun
 Know that there are many different types of light and they can be classed as natural
(occurs in nature)or artificial (man-made)
 Explain that objects that releases or emit light are said to be luminous
 Explain that most objects are non-luminous (don’t make their own light but reflect
light from luminous objects).
 List an example of luminous (sun) and non-luminous (the moon)
 Explain the terms incandescent, fluorescence, chemiluminescnce,
electroluminescence and bioluminescence
WHERE DOES LIGHT
COME FROM?

Our major
source of light
is the
SUN
WHERE ELSE DOES LIGHT
COME FROM?
YOUR TURN
Classify each of the objects on the previous slide as either as natural or
artificial sources of light.

Natural Artificial
NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL
SOURCES OF LIGHT
A natural source of light is one that occurs in nature.

Light sources that are man-made are usually called artificial sources
of light.
These sources have to be manufactured by people, they do not occur
in nature.
LUMINOUS
An object that releases or emits light is said to be luminous.
Most objects around you, however, do not produce their own light. They
are non-luminous (such as the Moon)

Although the Moon looks bright in

the night sky, it is non-luminous.

It doesn't make its own light but

reflects light from the Sun instead.

Stars are the only objects in space

that make their own light.
THE MOON
Is a non-luminous object. We can see it from Earth as the Sun’s light reflects off
the Moon to Earth, as shown below.
LUMINOUS AND NON-
LUMINOUS OBJECTS
Anything that can produce its own light is said to be luminous.

Most things around us are non-luminous objects, they do not give off
light.

We can see them because light produced by a luminous object is

reflecting off them.
 LUMINOUS V NON-
LUMINOUS
TV screen
Sun Candle
Water
Torch

Hot metal Mirror

Moon
YOUR TURN AGAIN
Classify each of the objects on the previous slide as either luminous or non-
luminous.
Luminous Non-Luminous
INCANDESCENCE
The majority of luminous objects are also incandescent.

This means that they emit light because they are hot!

Objects that emit light without getting hot are described as not
incandescent.
SPECIAL SOURCES OF
LIGHT
Fluorescence
• Emit light when struck by short wavelength radiation such as ultra-violet
radiation.
• Examples: Fluorescent light tubes, highlighter pens, soap powders.

Chemiluminescence
• Involves producing light by mixing chemicals.
• Examples: Glow sticks used in emergency situations or by fisherman.

Electroluminescence
• Making light by applying an electrical voltage to special crystals.
• Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s) use these crystals.
• Examples: Televisions, HiFi equipment, calculators, watch displays.
BIOLUMINESCENCE
Many living organisms can actually produce their own light, which
they use for attracting mates, attracting prey and other reasons.
Use the web to collect images and information about 3 of these
strange and fantastic organisms.
 name of organism;
 what do they use bioluminescence for?
 how are they luminescent
GLOSSARY
Natural
Artificial
Luminous
Non-luminous
Incandescent
Fluorescence
Chemiluminescnce
Electroluminescence
Bioluminescence