Physics Notes - Lights
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ShannenPhysics Notes - Lights
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ShannenLIGHTS - CHAPTER 15
Properties of Light and General Knowledge
● Light is a form of energy.
● Made out of photons.
● Form of electromagnetic waves.
● Travels in waves and behaves as particles.
● Travels in all directions.
● Moves in a straight line (rectilinear propagation).
● Two types of light sources:
1. Luminous – produces its own light (e.g., the sun).
2. Non-luminous – reflects light (e.g., the moon).
● Light enables vision by sending signals to the brain when it reflects off objects.
Speed of Light
● Ancient Greeks thought light traveled instantaneously.
● Early studies by Ole Rømer and James Bradley led to modern measurements.
● Speed of light in vacuum: 299,792,458 m/s.
● Speed varies in different media:
1. Glass – slowest
2. Water
3. Air
4. Vacuum – fastest
Electromagnetic Waves
● Light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
● Low Energy (Long Wavelength, Low Frequency) → Radio, Microwaves, Infrared
● Visible Light (ROYGBIV)
● High Energy (Short Wavelength, High Frequency) → Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma
rays
● Properties of EM radiation:
○ Transfers energy from source to absorption.
○ Transverse waves (perpendicular oscillation).
○ Travels at the speed of light in a vacuum.
○ Can travel through different media.
● Uses:
○ Radio – communication
○ Microwaves – food heating
○ Infrared – remote controls, thermal imaging
○ UV – security checks
○ X-rays – medical imaging
○ Gamma rays – cancer therapy
● Dangers:
○ Microwave – internal heating.
○ IR – skin burns.
○ UV – sunburn, skin cancer.
○ Gamma – cellular damage.
Reflection of Light
● Definition: The change in direction of a wave at a surface where it remains in the
same medium.
● Terms of Reflection:
○ Incident Ray – incoming light ray.
○ Reflected Ray – bounced light ray.
○ Normal – imaginary perpendicular line at the surface.
○ Angle of Incidence – between incident ray and normal.
○ Angle of Reflection – between reflected ray and normal.
○ Plane Mirror – flat reflective surface.
○ Image – appearance of an object in the mirror.
● Laws of Reflection:
○ Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection.
○ The incident ray, normal, and reflected ray lie on the same plane.
○ The incident and reflected rays are on opposite sides of the normal.
● Smooth vs. Rough Surfaces:
○ Smooth surfaces → Regular reflection, clear image.
○ Rough surfaces → Irregular reflection, scattered rays, no image.
Image of Plane Mirrors
● Characteristics:
○ Upright
○ Laterally inverted
○ Same size as the object
○ Same distance from mirror as object
○ Virtual image (cannot be projected)
Concave and Convex Mirrors/Lenses
● Concave Mirror:
○ Curved inward
○ Converges light rays
○ Forms real or virtual images
○ Used in telescopes, headlights
● Convex Mirror:
○ Curved outward
○ Diverges light rays
○ Always forms a virtual image
○ Used in security mirrors, vehicle side mirrors
● Concave Lens:
○ Thinner in the middle
○ Diverges light rays
○ Used in correcting myopia (nearsightedness)
● Convex Lens:
○ Thicker in the middle
○ Converges light rays
○ Forms real or virtual images
○ Used in magnifying glasses, cameras
Refraction of Light
● Definition: The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
● Causes: Change in speed due to different optical densities.
● Laws of Refraction:
○ Light bends toward the normal when entering a denser medium.
○ Light bends away from the normal when entering a less dense medium.
● Refractive Index (n): Measures how much light slows down in a medium.
○ Higher n = greater bending.
● Examples:
○ Prism dispersing light
○ Lenses in glasses
○ Mirage effect
Critical Angle
● Definition: The angle of incidence in a denser medium at which light is refracted at
90° along the boundary.
● Total Internal Reflection (TIR): Occurs when:
○ Light travels from a denser to a less dense medium.
○ The angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, causing all light to
reflect inside.
● Examples of TIR:
○ Optical fibers (used in internet cables and medical endoscopes)
○ Diamond sparkle (due to high refractive index)
○ Periscopes and binoculars
White Light
● White light is a mixture of all colors (ROYGBIV).
● Dispersion occurs when white light passes through a prism, splitting into its
spectrum.
● Shorter wavelengths (violet) bend more than longer wavelengths (red).
● Rainbows form due to dispersion in water droplets.
Colors (Addition and Subtraction)
● Color Addition:
○ Primary Colors: Red, Green, Blue (RGB)
○ Secondary Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
○ Combining all three produces white light.
● Color Subtraction:
○ Filters absorb certain colors and transmit others.
○ Example: A red filter absorbs all colors except red.
○ Used in stage lighting and photography.
