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Physics of Light Waves and Rays

The document discusses the properties and behavior of light, including regular and diffused reflection, absorption, and the distinction between luminous and non-luminous objects. It outlines the laws of reflection and refraction, explaining how light interacts with different surfaces and mediums, and describes the characteristics of virtual and real images. Additionally, it categorizes materials based on their transparency and details how prisms affect light's direction.

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2011.nina.tomikowska
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10 views2 pages

Physics of Light Waves and Rays

The document discusses the properties and behavior of light, including regular and diffused reflection, absorption, and the distinction between luminous and non-luminous objects. It outlines the laws of reflection and refraction, explaining how light interacts with different surfaces and mediums, and describes the characteristics of virtual and real images. Additionally, it categorizes materials based on their transparency and details how prisms affect light's direction.

Uploaded by

2011.nina.tomikowska
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Light Waves and Rays

●​ Regular reflection - light reflected from a light reflected from a smooth surface (mirror)
●​ Diffused reflection - light reflected from a rough or uneven surface (paper)
●​ Absorption - light absorbed by black surfaces
●​ Luminous - sun, lamps, lasers, TV ( send out their own light)
●​ Non-luminous - you see them only in daylight because light bounces off

Features of Light
●​ Light is a form of radiation ( erase represent where the light is going)
●​ Light travels in straight lines eg light coming from sun, torches, laser
●​ Light transfers energy eg solar panels convert light energy into electricity
●​ Light travels as waves. However, the wavelength of light is so small that it appears to be
moving in a straight line
●​ Light can travel through an empty space eg vacuum
●​ Light is the fastest thing there is (3 x 10^8 m/s)

The light striking the mirror is called an incident ray and the line reflected from a mirror is called
a reflected light ray.

Laws of Reflection (plane mirror)


●​ Normal - a perpendicular to the mirror/surface
●​ Angle of incidence - angle made by incident light ray with the normal
●​ Angle of reflection - angle made by reflected light right with normal

Law of Reflection
●​ The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
●​ The angle of instance, normal, angle of reflection, all a lie in the same plane
Rules for Image Size and Position
●​ The image formed by a plane mirror are virtual images
●​ Virtual image - an image that is formed by a mirror and the light rays appears to be
coming from behind the mirror
●​ Real image - an image formed on the screen eg in the cinema, projector - projects the
image on the screen
●​ An image formed by a plane mirror is laterally inverted
●​ Image formed by a mirror is always at the same distance behind the mirror as an object
is in front of the mirror
●​ The height/size of the image formed the same as the object

Refraction of Light
●​ It’s the bonding of light when it travels from one medium to another.
●​ Refraction occurs due to the change in speed of light.
●​ Laws of refraction
1.​ The incident light is always coming to the normal & gets reflected
2.​ Reflected light is bent away from the normal
3.​ Angle of reflection depends on the medium

Types of Objects - how light passes through them


●​ Transparent - materials that allow the light to pass through (glass, plastic, water)
●​ Translucent - materials that allow light to partially pass through (paper, fabric)
●​ Opaque - materials that don't allow light to pass (metal, wall, stone, black surf)

Refraction by Prism - prism is a triangle shaped object made out of glass/plastic


●​ The light coming out of the prism is deviades (changes direction)
●​ The reflected light)
●​ Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet
●​ Red least deviated, Violet most deviated

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