Transcript Wave Properties of Light

Wave Properties
By : Kara Dixon
Reflection
 The angles are always measured with respect to the
normal to the surface.
 The law of reflection is also consistent with the
particle picture of light.
 Angle of Incidence is always equal to the angle of
Reflection.
 67 degrees incidence is equal to 67 degrees
reflection, 45 = 45, 37 = 37
Reflection
W H E N A L I G H T R A Y R E F L E C T S O F F T H E S U R F A C E O F A M I R R O R
IT FOLLOWS A PATH SIMILAR TO A BEHAVIOR TO A POOL BALL
BOUNCING OFF OF A CUSHION ON A POOL TABLE.
T H E W A V E R E F L E C T E D F R O M T H E S U R F A C E F O R M S A N A N G L E
EQUAL TO THE ONE FORMED BY ITS PATH.
R E F L E C T I O N I S D E F I N E D A S T H E B O U N C I N G B A C K O F A R A Y O F
LIGHT INTO THE SAME MEDIUM.
Refraction
 The bending of light as it
passes between materials,
such as solid, liquids,
gases.
 The more dense the
material, the slower the
speed of light in that
material.
 The frequency of light
does not change when it
passes from one medium
to another.
Refraction
R E F R A C T I O N I S T H E B E N D I N G O F L I G H T R A Y S W H E N P A S S I N G
FROM ONE TRANSPARENT MATERIAL TO ANOTHER.
T H E A M O U N T O F B E N D I N G D E P E N D S O N T H E I N D I C E S O F
REFRACTION OF THE TWO MEDIA.
A G R E A T E X A M P L E I S P L A C I N G A P E N C I L I N A C L E A R G L A S S O F
WATER.
Refraction by Dispersion
 Rainbows are caused by a combination of the refraction of
light as it bends twice, once going in(slows down), and
once going out(speeds up.) Raindrops act like prisms.
 Light is composed of waves of different wavelengths that
correspond to different colors of lights, giving us the
colors of the rainbow (ROYGBIV)
Diffraction
 This is the bending of light waves around obstacles
in its path.
 Ex. Owls for instance are able to communicate
across long distances due to the fact that their longwavelength hoots are able to diffract around forest
trees.
 A great example is a shadow.
Diffraction
D I F F R A C T I O N I S T H E B E N D I N G O F L I G H T W A V E S A R O U N D
OBSTACLES IN ITS PATH.
D I F F R A C T I O N L I M I T S T H E R E S O L V I N G P O W E R O F
MICROSCOPES AND OTHER MAGNIFYING DEVICES.
I F T H E O B J E C T B E I N G U S E D I S S M A L L E R T H A N T H E
WAVELENGTH OF LIGHT, THEN THE LIGHT DIFFRACTS AROUND
THE OBJECT.
Constructive Interference
 Constructive interference
also occurs when the
trough of one wave is
super positioned upon the
trough of another wave, or
when a wave overtakes
another and builds on it.
 Ex. Band players do not
need microphones when
playing instruments
together.
Destructive Interference
 When the crest of one
wave passes through, or is
super positioned upon,
the trough of another
wave, we say that the
waves destructively
interfere.
 Ex.
Transmission
 Is the passage of EM
wave through a
medium.
 If the light reflected
from objects did not
pass though the air,
windows, or most of
the eye, we could not
see the objects.
Absorption
 Is the disappearance
of and EM wave into
the medium.
 Affects how things
look, because it limits
the light available to
be reflected or
transmitted,