Light
So, what is light?
 • The particle or ray model of light is
                                                       Is it a particle?
   illustrated by the properties of reflection
   and refraction.
 • The wave model of light is illustrated by             Is it a wave?
   the properties of reflection, refraction,
   diffraction, interference, and
   polarization.
 •   But there are problems:                      if
     light is a wave, and waves need a “medium”
     such as air or water to carry them, then how
     can light travel through empty space?               It is neither,
                                                             but it’s
• The solution was to decide that light was neither        like both
  a wave nor a particle, but something else which
  sometimes behaved like them.
Where does light come from?


           Our major
         light source:
            the Sun
Where else does light come from?
Sorting light sources
Natural      vs.   Man-made (artificial)
Are these light sources?




  moon                                    mirror
                      water

These items are not light sources, instead they
are reflecting light from other sources.
light
             How does light travel?
 source




 Light rays travel in straight lines from the light source.
 When it hits an opaque object, some light is absorbed and
  the rest reflects off.
 If the object is transparent, light rays pass through it
  easily.
 If the object is translucent, some light can pass through,
  but the rest of the light will be reflected.
How do we see?
Light coming from, (or reflecting off)
 objects enters the eye through the cornea
 then the pupil.

It is focused clearly by the lens on to the
 retina.

The light sensitive cells of the retina gather
 information about patterns of light and dark,
 colour and movement and send it through the
 optic nerve.
How do we see?
Information entering the brain through the
 optic nerve, is then transmitted through
 more nerve pathways to the visual cortex.

Here the patterns of light and dark, colour
 and movement are interpreted.

The brain, based on past experience, can
 then understand what it ‘sees’.
How do we see colour?
 light
source
                      Light  from most light
                       sources looks white, but
                       actually contains all the
                       colours of the spectrum;
                       also known as the
                       rainbow.
                      If an object looks blue, it
                       is absorbing every colour
                       except blue, which is
                       reflecting off it and
                       entering your eyes.
                      If an object looks orange,
                       it is absorbing every colour
                       except orange, which,
                       again, is reflecting off and
                       entering your eyes.
                      If an object looks red...
                       (You get the idea!)
How does light reflect?




                                      on
                                off
                          Angle of incidence

                          Angle of reflection


                              The ‘angle of
                              reflection’ is
                              always equal
                              to the ‘angel
                              of incidence’.
Light can only be reflected
in straight lines.




                                    on
                              off
How does light form shadows?




           light    light
          source   source



 Light  rays travel in straight lines, radiating out from the
  light source.
 If rays are blocked by an opaque object a shadow forms
  where the light cannot reach.
 If the light source is moved closer to the object, more
  light is blocked and a larger shadow is formed.
How does sunlight cause shadows?
                             12am
                                           Looking North,
                       2pm          10am   the Sun appears
   The position of the
                                           to rise in the
   Sun effects the                         9am
             3pm                           East...
   position and length of
   the shadows created.                        8am
          4pm


    7pm                                              6am

                                      Thanks to this
                                      natural phenomenon a
...and travel                         sundial is able to tell
across the sky                        us the time, as long
until it sets in the                  as it is a sunny day!
West.
Now explain to your partner:



What is the
       Why does an
difference between        Why does the
light from thelook a
       orange Sun         Sun rise How does a
                                   in
       different colour
and light from the        the Eastperiscope
                                    and
moon? to a banana?        set in the
                                   work?
                          West?
             Why can’t we
             see anything
             without a
             light source?

Light...

  • 1.
  • 2.
    So, what islight? • The particle or ray model of light is Is it a particle? illustrated by the properties of reflection and refraction. • The wave model of light is illustrated by Is it a wave? the properties of reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, and polarization. • But there are problems: if light is a wave, and waves need a “medium” such as air or water to carry them, then how can light travel through empty space? It is neither, but it’s • The solution was to decide that light was neither like both a wave nor a particle, but something else which sometimes behaved like them.
  • 3.
    Where does lightcome from? Our major light source: the Sun
  • 4.
    Where else doeslight come from?
  • 5.
    Sorting light sources Natural vs. Man-made (artificial)
  • 6.
    Are these lightsources? moon mirror water These items are not light sources, instead they are reflecting light from other sources.
  • 7.
    light How does light travel? source  Light rays travel in straight lines from the light source.  When it hits an opaque object, some light is absorbed and the rest reflects off.  If the object is transparent, light rays pass through it easily.  If the object is translucent, some light can pass through, but the rest of the light will be reflected.
  • 8.
    How do wesee? Light coming from, (or reflecting off) objects enters the eye through the cornea then the pupil. It is focused clearly by the lens on to the retina. The light sensitive cells of the retina gather information about patterns of light and dark, colour and movement and send it through the optic nerve.
  • 9.
    How do wesee? Information entering the brain through the optic nerve, is then transmitted through more nerve pathways to the visual cortex. Here the patterns of light and dark, colour and movement are interpreted. The brain, based on past experience, can then understand what it ‘sees’.
  • 10.
    How do wesee colour? light source  Light from most light sources looks white, but actually contains all the colours of the spectrum; also known as the rainbow.  If an object looks blue, it is absorbing every colour except blue, which is reflecting off it and entering your eyes.  If an object looks orange, it is absorbing every colour except orange, which, again, is reflecting off and entering your eyes.  If an object looks red... (You get the idea!)
  • 11.
    How does lightreflect? on off Angle of incidence Angle of reflection The ‘angle of reflection’ is always equal to the ‘angel of incidence’.
  • 12.
    Light can onlybe reflected in straight lines. on off
  • 13.
    How does lightform shadows? light light source source  Light rays travel in straight lines, radiating out from the light source.  If rays are blocked by an opaque object a shadow forms where the light cannot reach.  If the light source is moved closer to the object, more light is blocked and a larger shadow is formed.
  • 14.
    How does sunlightcause shadows? 12am Looking North, 2pm 10am the Sun appears The position of the to rise in the Sun effects the 9am 3pm East... position and length of the shadows created. 8am 4pm 7pm 6am Thanks to this natural phenomenon a ...and travel sundial is able to tell across the sky us the time, as long until it sets in the as it is a sunny day! West.
  • 15.
    Now explain toyour partner: What is the Why does an difference between Why does the light from thelook a orange Sun Sun rise How does a in different colour and light from the the Eastperiscope and moon? to a banana? set in the work? West? Why can’t we see anything without a light source?