Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 726 views

    01 Properties of Light

    Uploaded by

    Donna
    Light is a form of electromagnetic wave that exists over a wide range of frequencies known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light occupies a narrow band of frequencies between about 4.3-7.5x1014 Hz. Light travels at a constant speed of 3x108 m/s in a vacuum. The properties of light, including frequency, wavelength, speed, transmission and color are defined. Formulas relating these properties are provided and examples are worked through.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    01 Properties of Light

    Uploaded by

    Donna
    726 views19 pages
    Light is a form of electromagnetic wave that exists over a wide range of frequencies known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light occupies a narrow band of frequencies between about 4.3-7.5x1014 Hz. Light travels at a constant speed of 3x108 m/s in a vacuum. The properties of light, including frequency, wavelength, speed, transmission and color are defined. Formulas relating these properties are provided and examples are worked through.

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Light is a form of electromagnetic wave that exists over a wide range of frequencies known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light occupies a narrow band of frequencies between about 4.3-7.5x1014 Hz. Light travels at a constant speed of 3x108 m/s in a vacuum. The properties of light, including frequency, wavelength, speed, transmission and color are defined. Formulas relating these properties are provided and examples are worked through.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    726 views19 pages

    01 Properties of Light

    Uploaded by

    Donna
    Light is a form of electromagnetic wave that exists over a wide range of frequencies known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light occupies a narrow band of frequencies between about 4.3-7.5x1014 Hz. Light travels at a constant speed of 3x108 m/s in a vacuum. The properties of light, including frequency, wavelength, speed, transmission and color are defined. Formulas relating these properties are provided and examples are worked through.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 19

    Properties of Light

    Lesson 1
    (2 hours)
    Properties of Light
    Word bank
    ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
    Energy-carrying wave emitted by
    vibrating charges (often electrons) that is
    composed of oscillating electric and
    magnetic fields that regenerate one
    another.
    Properties of Light
    • Light is a form of electromagnetic wave
    • Other electromagnetic waves include:
    – Radio waves
    – Microwaves
    – Infrared rays
    – Ultraviolet rays
    – X-rays
    – Gamma rays
    Properties of Light
    Word bank
    ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
    Range of frequencies over which
    electromagnetic waves can be propagated
    (from radio waves to gamma rays)
    Properties of Light
    Word bank
    FREQUENCY (f)
    • The number of vibrations per unit time
    • The number of crests that pass a
    particular point per unit time
    • Measured in hertz (Hz)
    Properties of Light
    Word bank
    WAVELENGTH (λ)
    • Distance between successive crests,
    troughs or any identical parts of a wave
    • Measured in meters (m)
    crests
    wavelength

    troughs
    Properties of Light
    • The frequency of light ranges from
    4.3 x 1014 Hz to 7.5 x 1014 Hz
    – This frequency range is completely referred to
    as VISIBLE LIGHT
    – Frequencies lower and higher than that of
    visible light is INVISIBLE to human eyes

    • The speed of light in vacuum is constant (as for


    all electromagnetic waves) and is equal to
    3.0 x 108 m/s
    CONCEPT CHECK
    • Which electromagnetic wave has the
    lowest frequency?
    • Which electromagnetic has the highest
    frequency?
    • Which electromagnetic wave has the
    shortest wavelength?
    • Which electromagnetic wave has the
    longest wavelength?
    Properties of Light
    WAVE EQUATION
    An equation relating the physical
    quantities: WAVE SPEED (v),
    WAVELENGTH (λ) and FREQUENCY (f)

    wave speed = wavelength x frequency


    or
    v = λf
    Properties of Light
    EXAMPLE
    Determine the wavelength of the radio
    wave used to broadcast radio signals at
    frequency 96.3 MHz (Megahertz).
    Given:
    f = 96.3 MHz = 96.3 x 106 Hz
    v = 3.0 x 108 m/s (Speed of all electromagnetic waves)
    λ=?
    Properties of Light
    SOLUTION
    λ = v/f
    = (3.0 x 108 m/s)/(96.3 x 106 Hz)
    = 3.12 m
    YOUR TURN
    Determine the frequency of red light if its
    wavelength is equal to 700 nm
    (nanometers)
    Hint: You have to convert nanometers to meters
    before you use the wave equation
    SOLUTION
    f = v/λ
    = (3.0 x 108 m/s)/(700 x 10-9 m)
    = 4.3 x 1014 Hz
    Properties of Light
    COLOR
    • How we see things depend on how the
    objects respond to incoming light
    • When white light strikes an object, some
    of the light is absorbed
    • The unabsorbed frequencies are those
    that bounce off the objects and reach
    our eyes
    Properties of Light
    COLOR
    White light is composed of 7 spectral
    colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
    indigo and violet
    CONCEPT CHECK
    • What happens when we see objects as
    black?
    • What do you think happens to the
    frequencies of light for objects that are
    colored pink, mint green or brown?
    Properties of Light
    TRANSMISSION
    • When light is incident on an object and
    most of it passes through without any
    distortion, then the material is considered
    transparent (Ex: Glass, water, air)
    Properties of Light
    TRANSMISSION
    • When light passes through a material but
    is scattered in the process so you cannot
    see clearly through them, then the
    material is considered translucent (Ex:
    Frosted glass, paper)
    Properties of Light
    TRANSMISSION
    • Some materials do not allow light to pass
    through them at all. These materials are
    considered opaque (Ex: Concrete wall,
    wood)

    Creates a dark area behind the


    object called a shadow

    You might also like