Light!

The colors of the visible light spectrum What is light? Light is made up of many different COLORS. The colors of the visible light spectrum color wavelength interval frequency interval red ~ 700–635 nm ~ 430–480 THz orange ~ 635–590 nm ~ 480–510 THz yellow ~ 590–560 nm ~ 510–540 THz green ~ 560–490 nm ~ 540–610 THz blue ~ 490–450 nm ~ 610–670 THz violet ~ 450–400 nm ~ 670–750 THz

Types of light Visible light is the light that humans can see. In order for an object to be visible, it must either: 1. Give off its own light (sun, candle, flashlight) OR 2. REFLECT light

Seeing light The color of an object is the color it reflects. Ex- an orange is orange because it absorbs every color BUT orange, instead it reflects orange

How Light Travels through objects

A transparent material allows light to pass through it. Objects can be seen clearly when viewed through transparent materials.

examples Light passes through air clearly. Water allows light to pass through easily. Light bulbs are made of glass

A translucent material scatters or absorbs some of the light and allows some of the light to pass through it. Objects appear as blurry shapes when viewed through translucent materials.

Wax paper does not let light pass through easily. Frosted glass does not let light pass through easily.

An opaque material does not allow light to pass through, light is either reflected or absorbed.

Light cannot pass through wood like a baseball bat. Light cannot pass through a football. Light cannot pass through a basketball.

Light’s Primary Colors Red Blue Green (NOT Yellow)

Combining the primary colors of light produces… Cyan Yellow Magenta

How Light strikes objects

How light strikes objects When light hits an object, the light will either reflect, refract, or absorb.http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/cat_absorption.html

Reflection When light is reflected, it bounces back from a surface. Reflection allows objects to be seen that do not produce their own light.

Reflection When light strikes a smooth, shiny object, a mirror, or a pool of water, it is reflected so that a reflection can be seen that looks very similar to the object seen with light reflected directly from it.

Refraction When light is refracted it passes from one type of material (medium) to another, and changes direction.

Refraction When a pencil is viewed in water, light passes from the water to the air causing the path of the light to bend. When the light bends, the pencil appears distorted (bent or broken) Lenses (glasses and magnifying glass)

Absorption When light is absorbed it does not pass through or reflect from a material. It remains in the material as another form of energy.