Light
Waves
What Is Light?
1) Properties of light
2) Colors
3) Reflection - Mirrors
4) Refraction - Lenses
Part 1:
Properties of Light
Properties of Light
• Light travels in straight lines:
Laser
Light travels much faster than sound. For
example:
1) Thunder and lightning start at
the same time, but we will see
the lightning first.
2) When a starting pistol is
fired we see the smoke first and
then hear the bang
Light travels VERY FAST – about 186,000
miles per second.
At this speed light could travel
the equivalent of 8 times around
the world in one second!
Light can create shadows
Shadows are places where light is “blocked”:
Rays of light
Light travels in
waves
• A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from place to place.
• Waves can transfer energy over distance without moving matter the entire
distance.
• For example, an ocean wave can travel many kilometers without the water
itself moving many kilometers.
What characteristics do light waves have?
• Light waves are like other kinds of waves.
• They have crests, troughs, wavelength, frequency and speed.
However, light waves are electromagnetic. Light waves have a
component that is electric and magnetic.
We see things because they reflect light into our eyes. This is literally the only way
we get to see things. ALL objects we see either create light or reflect light.
Homework
Electromagnetic
Radiation
• Light is a form of energy called Electromagnetic Radiation.
Electromagnetic Radiation comes from the sun and other sources.
• Travels at the speed of light
• Is mostly invisible
• Carries energy
Properties of Light
summary
1) Light travels in straight lines and is a form of energy.
2) Light travels much faster (a million times faster!) than sound.
3) We see things because they reflect light into our eyes.
4) Shadows are formed when light is blocked by an object.
5) Visible light is only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum; the other
parts are invisible to the human eye but not necessarily the eyes of other
animals.
Part 2:
Reflection and Mirrors
Regular vs. Diffuse
Reflection
Smooth, shiny surfaces have a
regular reflection:
Rough, dull surfaces have a diffuse
reflection.
Diffuse reflection is when light is scattered
in different directions
The Law of
Reflection
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
In other words, light gets reflected from a surface at ____
_____ angle it hits it.
The same
Reflection and
Mirrors
Reflection from a mirror: Normal
Incident ray Reflected ray
Angle of incidence Angle of
reflection
Mirror
Using mirrors
Two examples:
2) A car headlight
1) A periscope
Types of Mirrors: Plane, Concave,
Convex
Plane mirrors are flat and
make “virtual images”.
The images is “virtual”
because the light rays do
not come from the
image, they only appear
to.
Convex mirrors are mirrors that curve outward
Convex mirrors are used for security purposes,
in cars etc. They allow us to see a wide view.
Review of
Reflection
1. Two types of reflection, regular and diffuse.
2. Mirrors come in 3 types: plane, convex and concave. Each has a distinct
shape and use.
3. Mirrors can make virtual images or real images depending on their type.
4. Virtual images - light rays do not meet and the image is always upright
or right-side-up.
5. Real images - always upside down and are formed when light rays
actually meet.
Refraction
• Refraction is when waves speed up or slow down due to travelling
in a different medium
• A medium is something that light waves will travel through
• Light rays are slowed down when they pass through different
mediums.
• Causes the ruler to look bent at the surface
• The mediums in this example are water and air
The degree that light bends when it enters a new medium is
called the “index of refraction”
Light hitting at an Light hitting straight on
angle is bent. is not bent.
Lenses work because of refraction. Light is bent as it enters a
new medium, glass.
1. Thicker in middle, thin on edges
2. Light rays meet to form a focal point
3. Makes real images since light rays come
together from a light source, but can also make
virtual images (center picture)
4. Used in cameras, telescopes, human eye
Concave Lenses
1.Concave lenses are thin in the middle
and thicker on the edges
2.Since light rays never meet with this
lens, they make virtual images only
3.Used in cameras & telescopes to correct
spherical aberation, and also eyeglasses
Review of
Refraction
1. Light rays slow down when they enter a new medium
2. Refraction can cause light rays to change their direction
3. All transparent materials have their own “index of
refraction”
4. Light is refracted when it passes through lenses and this
creates images
Part 3:
Color
Color
1. White light is not a single color; it is made up of a
mixture of the seven colors of the rainbow.
We can demonstrate this by
splitting white light with a
prism:
This is how rainbows are
formed: sunlight is “split up” by
raindrops.
The colors of the
rainbow:
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
Just remember ROY G. BIV
Seeing color
1. The color an object appears depends on the color of light
it reflects.
For example, a red book only reflects red light:
White Only red light
light is reflected
Transparent, Translucent, and
Opaque
Transparent: a transparent object is one that lets light pass
through completely.
Examples are:
Clear window , Transparent glass
Translucent: Translucent materials transmit some light but
cause it to spread in all directions.
Ex:
Bathroom windows, Waxed paper
Opaque: Opaque materials do not allow any light to pass
through them.
THANKS
