Topic: Light and its Principles

 Light is a medium of energy through which we

perceive and interact with our environment.
 It is the visible frequency range of electromagnetic
radiation which includes invisible forms of
electromagnetic radiations such as ultraviolet,
infrared and radio waves.
 The light is transmitted by indivisual packets of
energy known as photons.
 Intensity
 Spectrum
 Polarisation
 Speed in vacuum
 Intensity: it is like brightness , and it is measured as
the rate at which light energy is delivered to a unit of
surface, or energy per unit time per unit area.
 Spectrum: the electromagnetic spectrum is the
range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation
and their respective wavelengths and photon
energies.
 Polarisation: it is the property of wave that can
oscillate with more than one orientation. A light wave
that is vibrating in more than one plane is referred to
as unpolarized light. The process of transforming
unpolarized light into polarised light is known as
polarisation of light.
 Speed in vacuum: (c) it is a universal physical
constant and very important in many areas of
physics. The value of light in vacuum is
 Reflection
 Refraction
 Diffusion
 Absorption
 Wave properties
 Reflection is when light bounces off an object.
specular reflection : if the surface is smooth and shiny, like
glass, water or polished metal, the light will reflect at the
same angle as it hit the surface. i.e angle i = angle r
Diffuse reflection: if the surface is rough and light is reflected
in many directions.
Refraction is the bending of light wave when it move
from one medium to another.
When the light passes from denser medium to rarer
medium it bends away from normal .
When the light passes from a rarer medium to denser
medium it bends towards the normal.
 When light is incident on a rough surface, it is
reflected or transmitted in many directions at once,
this is called diffusion of light.
 To prevent glare from a light source, a diffusing glass
screen can be introduced between the observer and
the light source.
 Two types of diffusing glass are employed. They are
 Opal glass: ordinary glass made up of a material
having refractive index different from that of a glass.
 Frosted glass : produced by a coating ordinary glass
with a crystalline substance.
 Absorption of light takes place when matter captures
electromagnetic radiations, converting the energy of
photons to internal energy. Energy is transferred from
the radiation to the absorbing species.
Eg:
 infrared light excites vibration of molecules.
 Microwave wavelengths excite rotation of molecules.
 Plant absorb red and blue light which is very much
essential for the process of photosynthesis.
Wave motion arises when a periodic disturabance of
some kind is propagated through an elastic medium.
 Three properties of a wave are :
 Amplitude the maximum value of the variable
reached in either direction.
 Frequency : the number of vibrations per second .
 wavelength the distance travelled by a wave .