Class: VI Sub: Physics

UNIT 06: LIGHT

Light energy: Light energy is a kind of kinetic energy with the ability to make types of light visible to human
eyes. Light is defined as a form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by hot objects like lasers, bulbs, and the
sun.
 Light contains photons which are minute packets of energy. When an object’s atoms get heated up, it
results in the production of photons, and this is how photons are produced. The electrons find excitement
from the heat, which results in earning extra energy. The energy is released in the form of a photon, and
more photons come out as the substance gets hotter.
 Light travels in the form of a wave when it travels. However, no matter is essential to carry the energy
along to travel. This is the reason why light can travel through space where there is no air. This is not
the case with sound waves since they have to travel through solids, liquids or gas. Light energy is very
quick and travels faster than anything. The light speed is equal to 3×108 m/s.
 The sun emits a large amount of electromagnetic radiation. Humans can see only a fraction of this energy
which is known as ‘visible light.’ How solar energy travels is expressed as waves. Scientists can calculate
the amount of energy of a wave by measuring its wavelength, i.e., distance between consecutive points of
a wave (from crest to crest and trough to trough).
 Visible light constitutes only one of many electromagnetic radiations emitted by the sun. The
electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible radiation frequencies. It shows different types of
electromagnetic radiation from the sun, including ultraviolet (UV) rays and X-rays. Various kind of
radiant energy from the sun has been differentiated within the electromagnetic spectrum and the difference
between wavelengths points to the amount of energy that is carried by them.
Uses of Light energy: Light energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation that can be seen by the human eye.
But there are also many commercial and scientific uses of light energy, some of which are listed below.
 Food: Light is the only source of food generation for all living organisms. Every organism is dependent
on light for its energy and food except a few chemotrophic organisms such as bacteria.
 Vision: Any organism can view the objects around them due to the presence of eyes. But these might be
useless without light. The eyes receive the image when light falls on them, and the information is sent to
the brain. Hence, light lets us see objects around us.
 Colors: The whole world is beautiful due to colors, and all these colors are possible due to light. The light
consists of many spectra; every spectrum has an individual color, broadly specified as VIBGYOR.
Light:
 Light is defined as a radiation that is visible to the human eye.
 It helps us to see different and colorful objects around us.
 It is the most popular and the fastest moving form of energy.
Sources of Light:
 An object which is capable of giving out light is called as the source of light.
 Luminous objects: The objects that emit their own light. E.g., Sun, Stars, Jugnu, Candle, etc.
 Non-luminous objects: The objects that do not emit their own light. E.g., Moon, Earth, Clothes, etc.
 At room temperature, many objects are non-luminous; but many of them can become luminous when
raised to higher temperature. E.g. Iron
 The objects that are produced by the humans to emit light are called artificial light emitting objects. E.g.,
Bulb, LED, etc.
 Extended source: The luminous objects that emit light are known as extended source of light.
 Point source: It is obtained from a small hole made on the screen placed in front of the luminous body.
 The light from the source spreads in all directions and when it enters our eyes we are able to see the object.
Transparent objects Translucent objects Opaque objects
These objects allow light to pass These objects allow light to pass These objects do not allow light to
through them. through them partially. pass through them.
One can clearly see through One can see through translucent One cannot see through transparent
transparent objects. objects but not clearly. objects.
Transparent objects do not cast Translucent objects cast faint Opaque objects cast dark shadows
shadows because they do not block shadows as they block light as they block light completely.
light. partially.
E.g., Clear Glass, Clear Water, E.g., Smoke, Fog, Mist, Butter E.g., Pencil, Paper, Wood, Stone,
Clean Air, Clear Plastic Paper, Frosted glass, Tracing paper Metals, Plastics

Rectilinear propagation of light:

 After emanating from a source, light travels only in a straight line in all directions. This phenomenon is
called the rectilinear propagation of light.
 The path in which the light travels in a particular direction is called the ray of light and a collection of
rays of light is called a beam of light.
 The beam of light are of the following three types:
1. The rays from a far-off object like sun are equidistant from each other at all places and do not meet,
are known as a parallel beam of light.
 2. The rays coming out from a small source (called a point source) go out in all directions and spread out
i.e. they diverge from the point source. Therefore, a point source produces a divergent beam.
3. The rays meeting at a one point are called as a convergent beam.

 A light source can be seen only if there is a straight-line path between the source and our eyes.
 A ray of light always travel from object to eyes.
 The light rays propagate with different speed in different media
Medium Speed (m/s)
Air/Vaccum 3×108
Water 2.25×108
Glass 2×108

A Pinhole Camera: A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single small hole or an
opening through which light passes.
 Light from a scene passes through this single hole and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of
the box.
 The smaller the hole, the sharper the image up to a certain point, but the projected image is dimmer.
 The pinhole camera is used to view the images of various objects such as trees, buildings etc.
 It can also be used to take a photograph of an object if a photographic film is placed on the screen.
 The pinhole camera works on the principle
“rectilinear propagation of light”.
 Characteristics of image:
1. Inverted image, i.e. upside down
2. Real image, as it is obtained on a screen
3. The same color as the object
4. Smaller, equal or bigger than the object

 Factors affecting the size of the image

1) Distance between the pinhole & the screen (Size of image increases with increase in distance)
2) Distance between the object & the pinhole (Size of image increases with decrease in distance)
Shadow: A shadow is created when an opaque object blocks light.
 If an object is moved closer to the light source, then the shadow gets bigger.
 If an object is moved further away from the light source, then the shadow gets smaller.
Thus, we know that the shadow of an object is formed only where there is
1. A source of light
2. An opaque object
3. A screen
4. The opaque object is placed between the source of light and the screen.
Umbra and Penumbra regions of the Shadow:

 The region of total darkness in front of the opaque object, where no light enters is called the umbra region
of the shadow.
 A point light source produces an umbra shadow region.
 In this, an opaque object illuminated by an extended light source blocks only partial light which forms
two types of regions in front of the object i.e. region of total darkness and region of partial darkness.
 The region of partial darkness is called the penumbra region of the shadow.
 In this, an extended light source produces both umbra and penumbra shadow regions.
Natural Shadows – Eclipse:
Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan)

Definition: Solar eclipse is an astronomical event where the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, obscuring
the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, either completely or partially.
Responsible factors for occurrence:
a) Sun, Moon, and Earth Alignment: For solar eclipse to occur, the moon must pass between the Earth and
the Sun, which temporarily blocks out the sunlight.
b) Role of Moon’s Orbit: Such event occurs approximately every six months during the new moon’s day
phase as during this time orbital plane of Moon is closest to the plane of the Earth’s orbit.
Shadows on Earth: The shadow casted by the Moon is divided into completely shadowed (umbra) and partially
shadowed (penumbra) regions.
a) The Umbra: The Umbra is the dark center of the Moon’s shadow. People within the umbra will be able
to witness a total eclipse. The Umbra gets smaller as it reaches Earth.
 b) The Penumbra: The Penumbra is the outer part of the Moon’s shadow and gets larger as it reaches Earth.
People within the penumbra will witness a partial eclipse.

Phases of solar eclipse:

a) Annular Solar Eclipse: Annular solar eclipse or Ring of Fire takes place when the Moon comes between
the Sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth. The Moon looks smaller than the Sun as it is
at its farthest point and hence does not cover the Sun completely.
b) Total Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan): This phenomenon occurs when the Moon completely blocks out the
Sun. As a result, the sky will darken completely.
c) Hybrid Solar Eclipse: It is a combination of total and annular eclipse. At some points on Earth, it appears
as a total eclipse, whereas at other points it appears as annular.
d) Partial Solar Eclipse: This phenomenon occurs when the Sun and Moon are not exactly in line with the
Earth, and the Moon only partially covers the Sun. However, partial eclipses are hardly noticeable as it
requires 90% coverage of the Sun to notice any darkening.
Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahan)
Definition: A lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) is an astronomical event where the Moon is darkened when it
moves into the Earth’s shadow.
Occurrence: The event usually occurs during the full moon phase, when the Moon’s orbital plane is nearest to
that of the Earth’s orbit. A lunar eclipse does not occur on every full moon night because the centers of the Sun,
Moon and the Earth do not lie in a straight line. Lunar eclipses are a relatively common phenomenon, with about
three lunar eclipses occurring every year. A total lunar eclipse occurs once every 2.5 years on average.
Safety: Lunar eclipses are completely safe to be observed with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses.
Shadows on Earth: The shadow casted by the Earth is divided into completely shadowed (umbra) and partially
shadowed (penumbra) regions.
a) The Umbra: The Umbra is the dark center of the Earth’s shadow.
b) The Penumbra: The Penumbra is the outer part of the Earth’s shadow.
Mechanism of Occurrence: The phenomenon occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon. During
this period, Earth casts a shadow on the Moon’s surface, reducing its visibility.

Phases of lunar eclipse:

 Penumbral lunar eclipse: During this event, the Moon passes through Earth’s penumbra or the light outer
part of its shadow. The Moon’s dimming is so slight that it can be difficult to notice.
 Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan): Due to the imperfect alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon,
only part of Earth’s umbra falls on the Moon. This shadow increases and decreases without completely
covering the Moon’s surface.
 Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan): During this event, the Moon moves into the inner part of Earth’s
shadow, or the umbra. Some part of the sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the
Moon’s surface, lighting it dimly. The lunar eclipse occurs more frequently and lasts for a longer period
of time.
 Why Does the Moon Turn Red
During a Total Lunar Eclipse
(Chandra Grahan)?
When the Moon moves into the
inner part of Earth’s shadow, or
the umbra. Some part of the
sunlight passes through Earth’s
atmosphere and reaches the
Moon’s surface, lighting it dimly.
The Moon appears reddish during
this event. The moon appears
reddish in color due to the
Rayleigh scattering of blue light.
The higher the dust or clouds in
Earth’s atmosphere during the
event, the redder the Moon
appears.

Do you know how the time was

measured in early days?
In ancient times, people used to
measure time by the shadow of an
object cast by the sun. A device,
named Sundial was invented for
this purpose. This device consists
of a triangular blade on a
reference place with markings.

What can a shadow relate to?

 Actual size of an object cannot be determined by its shadow.
 Sometimes it is possible to identify the shape of an object by
observing its shadow
 The color of an object cannot be identified by its shadow

What is Bio-luminescence?
The production or emission of light by a living organism as a result of the
conversion of chemical energy into light energy is called bioluminescence.
For example: Fireflies, Jellyfishes, etc.