1. Where do we get light?

2. Luminous and Illuminated Objects
A luminous object is one that produces light.
An illuminated object is one that reflects light.
Luminous Objects
Illuminated Objects

3. We see things because they reflect light into our eyes:
Homework

4. How does light behave?

5. Reflection of Light
Reflection occurs when a wave bounces back after striking a barrier.
Example: a reflection in a mirror.

6. Three things that affect how light is reflected:
Surface of the Object
Color of the Object
Shape of the Object

7. Clear vs. Diffuse Reflection
Surface of the Object
Clear vs. Diffuse Reflection
Smooth, shiny surfaces have a clear reflection:
Rough, dull surfaces have a diffuse reflection.
Diffuse reflection is when light is scattered in different directions

10. Color of the Object
Ever notice that an asphalt driveway seems hotter on a summer day than a concrete sidewalk?
This occurs because light that is not reflected from the surface of an object may be absorbed by the object and converted into thermal energy.

11. Shape of the Object Reflection from a mirror: Mirror Normal
Incident ray
Reflected ray
Angle of incidence
Angle of reflection
Mirror

12. Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
The Law of Reflection
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
In other words, light gets reflected from a surface at ____ _____ angle it hits it.
The same !!!

14. Plane (flat), Concave, & Convex
Types of Mirrors
Plane (flat), Concave, & Convex

15. Plane Mirrors Flat Surface
Light is reflected straight back, resulting in an upright image that is the same size as the original object.

16. Concave Mirrors Curves Inward (like the inside of a bowl)
If an object is very close to the mirror, light is reflected in a way that an enlarged, upright image is produced.
If the object is very far away, the image is reduced in size and upside down.

17. Convex Mirrors Curves Outward
Results in an image your eyes detect as upright and reduced in size.
The side mirrors on cars are convex mirrors. (Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.)

19. Refraction of Light
Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.

20. What causes the light to bend?
What’s different about air and water?
DENSITY – the amount of mass in a certain volume of a substance (mass/volume)
AIR
WATER
gas
liquid

21. Example of Refraction
When a straw is placed in water it looks like this:
In this case the light rays are slowed down by the water and are bent, causing the straw to look broken. The two mediums in this example are air and water.

22. Another Example:
When you use a magnifying glass, the object appears larger because of refraction.
The light waves traveling in the air change direction when they enter the glass of the lens, and then again when they move from the glass back into the air again.
Lens

23. Diffraction of Light
Diffraction is the bending, spreading, and interference of waves when they go through a narrow opening.

24. Diffraction Patterns
Radio waves can diffract around hills, mountains or even the whole planet.
Light waves can diffract through tiny slits.
X-rays can diffract around atoms.

25. Electromagnetic waves have a huge range of wavelengths.
If the wavelength is of a similar size to a gap in a harbor wall, then the wave will diffract as shown below.

26. If the wavelength does not match the size of the gap, then only a little diffraction will occur at the edge of the wave.

27. Transmission of Light
Transmission is the passing of waves through a medium.

28. Think about a radio station…
An electromagnetic wave is produced.
The wave travels from the stations transmitter out in all directions at the speed of light.
Even though you cannot hear radio waves when your radio’s turned off, the waves are still being transmitted in the room.

29. What happens when light hits these objects?
Glass of water
School bus window
Notebook paper
Waxed paper
Plastic wrap
Tissue paper
Cardboard
Textbook
Hand lens…

30. Many materials are classified by how well they transmit light.
Three Types of Materials:
Transparent
Translucent
Opaque

31. Transparent
A material that permits light to pass through

32. Transparent objects: ALL of these are transparent.
The windows on a school bus,
A clear empty glass,
A clear window pane,
The lenses of some eyeglasses,
Clear plastic wrap,
The glass on a clock,
A hand lens,
Colored glass…
ALL of these are transparent.
Yes, we can see through them because light passes through each of them.

33. Translucent
A material that transmits some light but also scatter light in all directions

34. Translucent objects:
Thin tissue paper,
Waxed paper,
Tinted car windows,
Frosted glass,
Clouds,
All of these materials are translucent and allow some light to pass but the light cannot be clearly seen through.

35. Opaque
A material that allows no light to pass through

36. Opaque objects:
Heavy weight paper,
Cardboard
Aluminum foil,
Mirror, bricks, buildings,
Your eyelids and hands,
Solid wood door,
All of these objects are opaque because light cannot pass through them at all.
They cast a dark shadow.

37. Shadows
Shadows are places where light is “blocked”:
Rays of light