how does light travel? Flashcards
lesson 1
True or False: Light can travel through a vacuum.
True.
Fill in the blank: Light behaves both as a particle and a __________.
wave.
What is the term for the change in direction of light when it passes from one medium to another?
Refraction.
Which phenomenon explains why a straw appears bent when placed in a glass of water?
Refraction.
What is the name of the theory that describes light as a stream of particles?
Particle theory of light.
True or False: Light can be polarized.
True.
What is the term for the bending of light around an obstacle?
Diffraction.
What happens to light as it passes from air into water?
It slows down and bends toward the normal.
Fill in the blank: The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of __________.
reflection.
What is the phenomenon called when light is absorbed and then re-emitted by a material?
Scattering.
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light.
What type of wave is light?
Electromagnetic wave.
True or False: Light requires a medium to travel.
False.
What is the term for the distance between consecutive peaks of a wave?
Wavelength.
What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength in light?
They are inversely related; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases.
What is the visible spectrum?
The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.
What color of light has the shortest wavelength?
Violet.
What is total internal reflection?
The phenomenon where light is completely reflected within a medium when it hits the boundary at a certain angle.
Fill in the blank: The __________ of light is the amount of energy it carries.
intensity.
What is a photon?
A quantum of light; the smallest discrete amount of electromagnetic radiation.
True or False: Different colors of light travel at different speeds in a vacuum.
False.
What is the principle of superposition in light waves?
When two or more light waves overlap, their amplitudes add together.
What does it mean when light is said to be monochromatic?
It consists of only one wavelength or color.
What is dispersion in relation to light?
The separation of light into its component colors due to varying wavelengths.
What happens to light when it hits a black surface?
It is absorbed.
What is the index of refraction?
A measure of how much light slows down in a medium compared to a vacuum.
