PHYSICS 2

LIGHT AND SOUND

WHAT IS LIGHT WAVES?

- It is a transverse, electromagnetic wave that can be seen by humans.
- The nature of light was first illustrated through experiments on diffraction
and interference.
- It can travel through a vacuum.
- It is produced by one of two methods
a. Incandescence is the measure of light from hot matter
b. Luminescence is the emission of light when excited electrons fall to
lower energy levels (in matter that may or may not be hot.
- light ranges in wavelength from 400 nm on the violet end to 700 nm on the
red end of the visible spectrum.
- the speed of light in a vacuum is represented by letter c from the latin
celeritas which means swiftness
- light is also known as visible light to contrast it from ultraviolet lights and
infrared lights

Intensity is the absolute measure of a light waves power density.

Brightness is the relative intensity as perceived by the average human eye.

Monochromatic light is described by only one frequency. Laser light is an example of

it. The colors of monochromatic light are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.

Polychromatic light is described by many different frequencies. Nearly every light

source is polychromatic. White light is polychromatic.

Convex Mirror
- A mirror with a spherical surface and reflecting from the exterior
- Also known as Diverging Mirror, as it diverges the incident rays after reflection.
- The angle of reflection falls away from the object
- The rays which fall on the surface of a mirror bulging towards the object are
diverged
Uses of Convex Mirror:
- The images produced are virtual and smaller in size
- Images appear closer unlike in case of some mirrors
- It helps to view more objects
- It used in searched mirror placed in big store or community halls
- It helps to concentrate on objects which are following us, this is the concept of
rare view mirrors used in automobiles.
Concave Mirror
- A mirror with a spherical surface and reflecting from the interior of the curvature.
- Also known as Converging Mirror as it converges the incident rays after reflection
- The angle of reflection falls toward the object
- The rays which fall on the surface of the mirror concave opposite to the object are
converged
Uses of Concave Mirror:
- The mirror can produce a magnified virtual image
- It is use as magnifying reflectors.
- Image will look much bigger compared to a plane mirror
- It is used in head lights of an automobile, telescopes etc.

Refraction is the bending of a wave when it enters a medium where its speed is different. The
refraction of light when it passes from a fast medium to a slow medium bends the light ray
toward the normal to the boundary between the two media. The amount of bending depends on
the indices of refraction of the two media and is described quantitatively by Snell's Law.

Refraction of sound waves is most evident in situations in which the sound wave passes through a medium
with gradually varying properties. For example, sound waves are known to refract when traveling over water.
Even though the sound wave is not exactly changing media, it is traveling
through a medium with varying properties; thus, the wave will encounter
refraction and change its direction.

Photometer
- used to measure the intensity of the light produced by an unknown source in terms of
a standard source.
- The general technique is to locate the two sources so that they give the same
illumination to two adjacent surfaces.
Lenses