Module 1 Flashcards
What is the spectrum of visible light?
380-780nm
What is the dual nature of light?
- Travels in waves
2. Interacts as particles
What are photons?
Massless particles that travel in a wave-like pattern at the speed of light.
What are characteristics of light waves?
Wavelength- distance between peaks
Amplitude- total wave height (relates to intensity)
Frequency- number of waves that pass a point per second
Velocity- speed of light = 299791km/s^2
How are wavelength and amplitude related?
Inversely
Intense light has what kind of wavelength and amplitude?
Short wavelength and high amplitude.
What is the difference between polychromatic and monochromatic light?
Poly- consists of all or a part of the EM spectrum
Mono- one wavelength/colour
What are the wavelengths of violet, green and red light?
Violet- 380-440nm
Green- 500-560nm
Red- 650-780nm
What is reflection?
A change in wave direction due to interaction with a reflecting surface.
What is refraction?
The bending of light due to the change in velocity that accompanies the passing between mediums of different densities.
What wavelengths refract more?
Shorter (violet)
What is diffraction?
The bending of light rays at the edge as they pass through a slit.
How do light waves that are in phase interfere?
Constructively
When light waves interfere destructively what are they called? What happens to the light?
Out of phase
The light decreases in intensity or cancels out all together.
Unpolarized light is oriented in what way?
Multiple planes
