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Light Waves Notes

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34 views

Light Waves Notes

Uploaded by

nandana jammula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Light

Light waves travel in straight lines as transverse waves. The vibrations in transverse light

waves travel at a perpendicular (90° angle) to the direction that light travels.

Visible light is the light we detect with our eyes. We can see an object when light reflects off
an object and into our eyes. As you can see in the diagram below.

In order to see the leaves, light is reflected off the leaves, into our eye.
Light is able to travel through space (which is a vacuum) because, unlike sound, light does
not need particles to travel.

Objects Transmitting Light


Light can also travel through gases, liquids and some solids. When light can pass through
objects, we say the objects can transmit light. Transparent, translucent and opaque are
terms we use to describe how objects transmit light. Objects that transmit light (which
means to let light through) are either transparent or translucent and objects that can not
transmit light are called opaque objects.
Transparent objects
Transparent is the word used to describe something that is clear or see through. If an
object is transparent, you can see a clear image through the object. An example of this is a
glass window.
As glass is transparent (see through), it transmits light.
Most of the light that hits the glass passes through, which is why you can see a clear image
through the glass window. However, some light gets reflected, which is why you can often
see a clear reflection through glass.
Translucent objects
Translucent is a word used to describe something that transmits light but does not allow
you to see a clear image through it.
For example, frosted glass is a translucent object.

Some of the light that hits the glass passes through but the light that is transmitted gets
scattered, which is why you can only see fuzzy images through frosted glass.
The remaining glass that hits the light is reflected and the reflected light is also scattered, so
the reflection is not clear either.
Opaque objects
The word opaque is used to describe an object in which light is not capable of passing
through.
Opaque objects are objects which do not transmit light. Most of the light that hits opaque
objects is absorbed, however, some light is reflected.
Any object you can’t see through is an opaque object.

Speed of Light
The speed of light is around 300,000,000 m/s, which is much faster than the speed of sound.
This means it takes light just over 8 minutes to get to Earth.

This explains why you see lightning before you hear it. Although the light and sound are
produced at the same time, the light reaches your eyes before you are able to hear the
sound.
Luminous and Non-Luminous Objects
Objects which emit (give out) light are called luminous objects. Examples of luminous
objects are:
o Sun
o Stars
o Electric bulbs
o Candles
Objects that do not emit light are called non-luminous objects. Most objects are non-
luminous. We are able to see non-luminous objects when light reflects off them, into our
eyes.
Reflection of Light
When a ray of light approaches a smooth polished surface and the light ray bounces back, it is
called the reflection of light. The incident light ray that land on the surface is reflected off the
surface. The ray that bounces back is called the reflected ray. If a perpendicular were drawn
on a reflecting surface, it would be called normal. The figure below shows the reflection of an
incident beam on a plane mirror.

Here, the angle of incidence and angle of reflection are with respect to normal and the
reflective surface.

Laws of Reflection
 The angle of incidence = Angle of reflection

Types of Reflection of Light


Different types of reflection of light are briefly discussed below:

 Regular reflection is also known as specular reflection


 Diffused reflection
 Multiple reflection

Regular/ Specular Reflection


Specular Reflection refers to a clear and sharp reflection, like the ones you get in a mirror. A
mirror is made of glass coated with a uniform layer of a highly reflective material such as
powder. This reflective surface reflects almost all the light incident on it uniformly. There is
not much variation in the angles of reflections between various points. This means that the
haziness and the blurring are almost entirely eliminated.
Regular Specular Reflection

Diffused Reflection
Reflective surfaces other than mirrors, in general, have a very rough finish. This may be due
to wear and tear such as scratches and dents or dirt on the surface. Sometimes even the
material of which the surface is made of matters. All this leads to a loss of both the brightness
and the quality of the reflection.

In the case of such rough surfaces, the angle of reflection when compared between points is
completely haphazard. For rough surfaces, the rays incident at slightly different points on the
surface is reflected in completely different directions. This type of reflection is called
diffused reflection and is what enables us to see non-shiny objects.

Diffused Reflection

Refraction of light is defined as


the change in direction or the
bending of a wave passing from
one medium to another due to
the change in speed of the wave
Electromagnetic spectrum

Wavelength is longest for Radio waves, shortest for Gamma Rays

Frequency is more for Gamma Rays and less for Radio waves

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