1.
The basic properties of light
Light does not require a medium to travel
Light travels in a straight line
Light carries energy
Nothing is faster than the speed of light
2. The theory of light
Particle Theory: Light is made up of particles called photons
Wave theory: Light travels like a wave and can diffraction and
interference
Truth: Light is both particle and wave, → wave-particle duality
3. The speed of light
( c = 3.0 \times 10^8 , \text{m/s} )
C=3.0X10^8 m/s
5. Production of light
Transitions from electrons inside atoms
Electrons absorb energy → transition to a higher energy level
Energy is released when it falls back to a lower energy level → emits
photons
6. EM Spectrum
From long wave to short wave: radio waves → microwaves → infrared
→ visible light → ultraviolet → X-rays → gamma rays
Visible light occupies only a small part of the electromagnetic
spectrum
Visible light wavelength order: Red (R) → Orange (O) → Yellow (Y) →
Green (G) → Blue (B) → Indigo (I) → Violet (V)
ROYGBIV
1. Light source classification
Luminous objects: Objects that can produce light on their own
Non-luminous objects: cannot produce light on their own, but can
only reflect light
How to know: Put the object in a completely dark room, if it still
glows→ it belongs to the luminous body
2. Nine ways of producing light
1. Incandescence
o Light produced by heating materials (e.g., candles, filaments)
2. Fluorescence
o Absorbs energy and emits light immediately, more efficient
than incandescent lamps (such as fluorescent lamps)
3. Phosphorescence
o Delayed glow after absorbing energy (e.g. glow-in-the-dark
stickers)
4. Chemiluminescence
o Chemical reactions produce light (such as glow sticks)
5. Bioluminescence
o Chemiluminescence in nature (e.g. fireflies, deep-sea fish)
6. Electric Discharge
o Electric current produces light through gas (e.g. lightning,
neon)
7. Triboluminescence
o Light is produced when the crystal is crushed
8. Light Emitting Diodes (LED)
o Semiconductors emit light, high efficiency, and are widely
used in lighting and display (OLED screens)
9. Lasers
o The stimulated radiation amplifies to produce a single
wavelength and extremely high intensity of light
1. Ray Model of Light
Light ray: Indicates the direction of light and the path of light
propagation in a straight line with arrows
2. Material classification
Transparent: Light transmits almost completely (e.g. glass)
Translucent: Partial light transmits, resulting in a blurry image (e.g.
frosted glass)
Opaque: Light does not pass through (such as a wooden board)
3. Shadows
Umbra: All light is blocked, creating a completely dark area
Penumbra: Part of the light is blocked, creating a lighter shadow
Condition: When the light source is not a point light source
4. Interaction of light with objects
It can happen when light encounters an object:
o Reflection
o Absorption
o Transmission
5. Reflection type
Specular reflection: Light reflects off smooth surfaces, creating a
mirror effect
Diffuse reflection: Light reflects off rough surfaces and scatters in
multiple directions
7. Planar mirror imaging
The image seen in the mirror is a virtual image
The virtual image is equal to the distance from the object to the
mirror, but is behind the mirror
1. Law of Reflection
Angle of incidence = reflection angle
Both angles are measured relative to the normal (Normal), not the
mirror itself
In the light diagram, it should be marked: incident ray, reflected ray,
normal, angle of incidence, and reflection angle
2. Planar mirror imaging
Virtual image: It looks like it's behind a mirror, but it's not actually
there
Size: Same as the object
Direction: Stay upright, but Lateral Inversion occurs
Position: The distance between the virtual image and the object is
equal to the mirror surface
Perception of the eye: reflected light seems to come from behind
the mirror
3. Describe the four elements of mirroring - S.A.L.T.
Size: The size of the image (compared to the object)
Attitude: The direction of the image (upright or upside down)
Location: The position of the image (in front of or behind the mirror)
Type: Properties of the image (real or virtual)
2. Classification of curved mirrors
Concave / Converging mirror
o Concave, like a "cave"
o Focal Point
Convex / Diverging mirror
o Convex, like a spherical shell
o The light diverges and seems to come from focus
3. Curved mirror terminology
C：Centre of Curvature
V: Vertex
PA：Principal Axis
f：Focal Point
F：Focal length
4. Concave Mirror Ray Diagrams
Three basic rays:
1. Parallel to the spindle → reflected through the focal point
2. Reflected by the focal → parallel to the main axis
3. Return the same way through the center of curvature →
Imaging Patterns for Different Object Positions (SALT):
Objects outside C: Like between C and F, zoomed out, upside down,
real
Objects in C: Like in C, equal size, inverted, real
Objects are between C and F: Images outside C, magnified, inverted,
real
Object at f: No image (reflected rays parallel)
The object is between F and V: the image is behind the mirror,
magnified, upright, and virtual
5. Convex Mirror Ray Diagrams
Three basic rays:
1. Parallel to the spindle → appears to come from the focal point after
reflection
2. Point to the focal point → reflected parallel to the main axis
3. Point to the center of curvature → return the same way
Imaging Regularity (SALT):
The image is always reduced, upright, and virtual, located behind
the mirror
6. Magnification
Equation: [ m = \frac{h}{h_'} = \frac{u}{v} ]
(h): Object height
(h'): The height of the image
(u): The distance from the object to the mirror
(v): The distance from the image to the mirror
7. Mirror Equation
[ \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{u} + \frac{1}{v} ]
Concave mirror: The focus is in front of the mirror
Convex mirror: The focus is on the back of the mirror
1. Definition of refraction
Refraction: When a light wave crosses the boundary between two
media, the direction of propagation changes.
Reason: Light has different speeds in different media → slows down
when entering a denser medium and accelerates when entering a
more sparse medium.
2. Refraction law
Light bending direction:
o Light in a new medium slows down → bends in the direction of
normal
o Light in the new medium accelerates → bends away from the
normal direction
Refraction and reflection often occur at the same time
4. Index of Refraction, n
Definition： [ n = \frac{c}{v}]
o (c): The speed of light in a vacuum
o (v): The speed of light in a medium
The greater the refractive index→ the slower the speed of light
5. Dispersion8
White light enters the prism → breaks down into different colors
Reason: Different colors of light have different speeds and different
refractive indices
Result: the formation of such a phenomenon as a rainbow
6. Total Internal Reflection
When light enters the dense medium from the dense medium, the
angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle (θc) → the light is
completely reflected back to the dense medium.
7. Application of refraction
Diamond: High refractive index → intense sparkle
Fibre Optics: Transmits information using total reflection
Prisms: Splitting light or changing the light path
Rainbows: Dispersion and reflections in water droplets
Mirages: The temperature difference in the air layer causes light to
bend
1. Basic concept of lenses
Converging lens: Light passes through and converges on the other
side of the focal point
Diverging lens: Light diverges outward through the back
3. Ray Diagrams for Lenses
Rule 1: Light parallel to the spindle → passes through the lens and
then through the focal point
Rule 2: Light passing through the center of the lens → does not
deflect and travels in a straight line
4. Convergent Lens Imaging Pattern (SALT)
Objects outside 2F: Like between F and 2F, zoom out, upside down,
and realize
Objects on 2f: Like on 2f, equal size, upside down, real image
Objects between 2F and F: Image outside 2F, zoomed in, upside
down, real image
Objects at f: No image (light parallel)
The object is between f and O: the image is on the same side of the
lens, magnified, upright, and virtual
5. Divergent Lens Imaging Pattern (SALT)
The image is always small, upright, and imaginary, and is located on
the same side of the object
6. Thin Lens Equation
[ \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{v} + \frac{1}{u}]
(f): Focal length
(u): Object distance (always positive)
(v): Image distance (positive for real image, negative for virtual
image)
Convergent lens: Focal length is positive
Divergent lens: The focal length is negative
7. Magnification
[ m = \frac {h }{h’} = \frac{u}{v} ]
(h): Object height
(h'): The height of the image
(u): Distance between objects
(v): Image distance
Scope of the exam: properties of light, light source, mirror (flat,
concave, convex), mirror ray diagram, refractive index, lens ray
diagram and formula
Light: EM Waves, Types of Light Sources
Mirrors: Plane, Convex, Concave
Mirror Ray Diagrams
Index of Refraction (n = c/v)
Lense Ray Diagrams / Lens Equation