1. Electromagnetic Waves and Light
Table of Contents
The Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
Waves of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Light and Color
Reflection and Mirrors
Refraction and Lenses

2. The Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
An electromagnetic wave travels through space at the speed of light—about 300,000 kilometers per second.

3. The Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
Light as a Wave
A polarizing filter acts like the slits in a fence.

4. The Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
The Photoelectric Effect
Photons hitting a metal surface knock out electrons.

5. Waves of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Comparing Electromagnetic Waves
Different types of electromagnetic waves have different wavelengths. Which are the visible light, radio waves, and X-rays?

6. Waves of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum can be broken up into different categories. Use the word bank to complete the boxes in the diagram.

7. Waves of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Types of Waves
The electromagnetic spectrum includes many kinds
of waves. Identify each kind of wave on the electromagnetic spectrum. What is the name of the highest energy waves?

8. Light and Color Types of Materials
Suppose the ball was placed behind the three-sectional window below. Then, what would you see inside the dashed circle?

9. Light and Color Color of an Opaque Object
The color an apple appears to be depends on the color of the light that strikes it.

10. Light and Color Color Filters
Imagine looking at the beach ball through a red, green, or blue filter. How will each section of the beach ball appear?

11. Light and Color Primary Colors of Light
The primary colors of light are red, green, and blue. Combined in different amounts, the primary colors can produce other colors.

12. Light and Color Primary Colors of Pigment
When the three primary colors of pigments are combined in equal amounts, they produce black.

13. Reflection and Mirrors
Diffuse and Regular Reflection
Which kind of reflection occurs on each surface?

14. Reflection and Mirrors
Concave Mirror
A concave mirror reflects rays of light parallel to the optical axis back through the focal point.

15. Reflection and Mirrors
Real and Virtual Images
The figures show how a concave mirror can produce both real and virtual images.

16. Reflection and Mirrors
Convex Mirror
Light rays parallel to the optical axis reflect as if they came from the focal point behind a convex mirror. Where do two reflected rays intersect behind the mirror?

17. Reflection and Mirrors
Different Types of Images Formed by Mirrors

18. Refraction and Lenses Optical Illusion In a Fish Tank
There is only one fish in
the tank, but refraction
makes it look
as though there are two.

19. Refraction and Lenses Refraction of Light The light ray bends
as it passes through different mediums.

20. Refraction and Lenses Bending Light
The table shows the index of refraction of some common mediums.

21. Refraction and Lenses Rainbow
A rainbow forms when light is reflected and refracted by water droplets suspended in the air.

22. Refraction and Lenses Concave Lens
A concave lens produces a virtual image that is upright and smaller than the object. In the second diagram, where would the image be when the two light rays are extended back to
the same side of
the lens as the object?

23. Refraction and Lenses How a Convex Lens Works
The type of image formed by a convex lens depends on the object’s position. Which image is virtual and which is real?

24. Refraction and Lenses Lenses and Mirrors
These photos show parallel rays of light passing through a convex lens and a concave lens. How would you complete the Lenses and Mirrors table?