Light Flashcards
Nature of Light by Isaac Newton
light is made up of particles called “copuscular”
Newton stated that light can perform two important properties
reflection and refraction
Nature of Light by Christian Huygens
Light is a series of waves in all directions
Elements of a Wave
- Wave
- Crest
- Through
- Height
- Length
- Frequency
Wave
repeating and periodic disturbance
that travels through a medium
Crest
highest part of the wave
Trough
lowest part of the wave
Wave height
vertical distance between wave and trough
Wave length
distance between two consecutive
wave crests or between two
consecutive wave troughs
Frequency
number of weaves passing a fixed point
Thomas Young’s Double Slit Experiment
A monochromatic light is shone on a screen containing two very tiny slits. As a result, a series of bright and dark bands or fringes was observed.
Photoelectric Effect
charged particles are released from a material when it absorbs radiant
energy. It was concluded through this that light is made up of particles
due to the ejection.
Dual Nature of Light
can be as particles or waves
Light as particles
can do reflection and refraction
Light as waves
can do diffraction and interference
Law of Reflection
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
Two types of reflection
Specular and diffused
Specular
Image produced is sharp and well-defined
Diffused
Image produced is not well-defined
Refraction
It is simply the bending of light as it enters from one medium to
another
Refraction of light is based on
index of refraction
Diffraction
Light simply passes a slit or a hole and then light as waves are
spread out
The smaller the hole, the _____ the diffracted rays produced,
vice versa.
larger
Interference
Constructive and Destructive
