LIGHT

Light is a form of energy that brings about the sensation of vision. It is of electromagnetic radiation. Light
travels very fast – its speed is around 300,000 kilometres per second (also 3.0 × 108 m/s). At this speed, it can
go around the world eight times in one second. We see things because they reflect light into our eyes.

TYPES OF LIGHT SOURCES

There are countless sources of light but they can all be categorized under either of the two following
categories-

 Natural sources ● Artificial sources

Natural Light Sources: The universe is filled with objects that emit light. Some of the light from these sources
reach the earth. The following things in nature have the ability to emit light:

The Sun is the major source of light for the earth. The sun is a massive ball of fire, at the centre of which
nuclear fusion produces massive energy. This energy comes out as heat and light. The light from the sun is one
of the major factors behind the sustainability of life on earth.

Every other star produces light too, but only a small or no amount of it reaches the earth because of the huge
distance. The moon provides light as well but it cannot produce light on its own. The light that we get from the
moon is the light reflected by it from the sun.

Some living organisms have the ability to produce light too. It is called bioluminescence. It is the effect of
certain chemical reactions within the organism. Fireflies, jellyfish, glow worm, certain deep sea plants and
microorganisms can be cited as examples.

Certain other natural phenomena such as lightning and volcanic eruptions also emit light.

Artificial Light Sources: Apart from the natural sources, light can be produced artificially too. The different light
sources produced artificially can be put under three broad categories-

 Incandescent Sources: When certain objects are heated to a high temperature, they begin to emit
light. Both infrared and visible light is produced in the process. Example- Candle, incandescent lamp.
 Luminescent Sources: Light can be produced by accelerating charges in a luminescent material. One
common way of doing it is by passing current through the material. Example- Fluorescent tube light,
electric bulb
 Gas Discharge Sources: Passing electricity through certain gases at a very low pressure can produce
light too. Example – Neon lamp, Sodium lamp.

RECTILINEAR PROPAGATION OF LIGHT

How does light travel? If you stand up on a mountain you can see around you for miles and miles, how are you
able to do that? The phenomenon of light that shows that light travels in a straight line is the rectilinear
propagation of light. Have you seen a light house by the beach? The lights on a light house rotate around the
light house so that it is visible from all sides. Why can’t we see a light house if the light isn’t rotating?

Experiment: You will understand the propagation of light with a simple experiment. Place a candle on a table
and light it. Place three cardboard sheets blocking your view of the candle. In these cardboard sheets make
three pinholes at equal heights such that the flame of the candle is visible through the cardboard sheets. Now
view the flame through the holes, you’ll find it visible. Now move one of the cardboard sheets and try to see
the flame. Can you? On moving the cardboard sheet, you will see that the flame is no longer visible. Now bring
the sheets back in line. The flame is visible again.
The light is visible only when all the three pinholes are aligned proving the rectilinear propagation of light.
From this experiment, we can deduce that light moves from place to place through rectilinear propagation.
Rectilinear is a fancy word for straight. Light travels from the source in a straight line.

LIGHT RAYS AND BEAM

The path through which light travels is called light ray. A beam of light is a collection of light rays. The beam
can be parallel, convergent or divergent.

LUMINOUS AND NON-LUMINOUS OBJECTS

Luminous objects can generate and emit light by themselves. E.g. Sun, stars, fire-flies, torch-light, candle etc.

Non-luminous objects depend on natural or artificial light sources to illuminate them. They can be classified as
transparent, translucent or opaque according to the way light behaves when it meets them.

 Transparent materials: allow large percentage of light to pass through them and we can see objects
through them easily. E.g. glass, water etc.
 Translucent materials: allow small amount of light to pass through them and we cannot see objects
through them easily. E.g. frosted glass, tracing paper, tissue paper etc.
 Opaque materials: do not allow any light to pass through them. E.g. wood, bricks, walls, human etc.

A Shadow is an area where light is blocked by an opaque and translucent object.

Umbra Penumbra
A totally dark shadow A partially dark shadow
Produced by point light Produced by extended light source
 Point source casting an umbra Extended source casting an umbra & penumbra

One natural phenomenon from which we can study shadow is the eclipse of the Moon as given below.
Similarly is also the eclipse of the Earth.

The laws of reflection:

1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection