This document discusses key properties of light including reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference. Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, following the law that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Refraction is the bending of light when passing from one medium to another at different speeds. Diffraction causes light to bend around barriers depending on the wavelength and barrier size. Interference results from the interaction of crests and troughs of light waves, producing constructive or destructive interference.

1. Light
Wave Properties of Light
Reflection
Refraction
Diffraction
Interference

2. Reflection
Reflection
when a wave strikes an object
and bounces off

3. Reflection
incident ray reflected ray
Normal
Surface

4. Reflection

5. Reflection
incident ray reflected ray
Normal
Surface

6. Reflection
Normal-line perpendicular to the
reflecting surface.
Incident ray/incoming ray-the ray
that hits the barrier/surface.
Angle of incidence-angle formed
by the incident ray with the
normal.

7. Reflection
Angle of reflection-angle formed
by the reflected ray with the
normal.

8. Reflection
incident ray reflected ray
Normal
Surface

9. Reflection
Law of Reflection
the angle of incidence
equals the angle of reflection
The incident ray, reflected
ray and the normal lie on the
same plane

10. Fiber Optics
Total Internal Reflection
•when all light is
reflected back into the
denser medium
Refraction

12. Refraction
Refraction
bending of waves when passing
from one medium to another

13. Refraction
Refraction
caused by a change in speed
•slower (more dense) refracted
ray bends toward the normal
•faster (less dense) refracted
ray bends away from the normal

14. Refraction
SLOWER

15. Refraction
FASTER

19. Refraction
Rainbows
refraction-reflection-refraction

22. Diffraction
Diffraction
bending of waves around a
barrier
depends on the wavelength
and size of the opening barrier.

24. Diffraction Gratings
glass or plastic made up of
many tiny parallel slits
may also be reflective
spectroscopes, reflective
rainbow stickers, CD surfaces
Diffraction

26. Interference
When two waves meets, they
have an effect with each other.
constructive when the crest
of one wave meet the crest of
the other one

27. Interference
destructive when the crest of
one wave meet the trough of
the other wave

28. Interference
constructive brighter light
destructive dimmer light

29. Interference
Thin Films - Bubbles & Oil
Slicks
interference results from
double reflection