Light

Wave Properties of Light

Reflection
Refraction
Diffraction
Interference
 Reflection
Reflection
when a wave strikes an object
and bounces off
 Reflection
Normal
incident ray reflected ray

Surface
Reflection
 Reflection
Normal
incident ray reflected ray

Surface
 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.
 Reflection
Angle of reflection-angle formed
by the reflected ray with the
normal.
 Reflection
Normal
incident ray reflected ray

Surface
 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
 Refraction
Fiber Optics
Total Internal Reflection
•when all light is
reflected back into the
denser medium
 Refraction
Refraction
bending of waves when passing
from one medium to another
 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
Refraction

SLOWER
Refraction
FASTER
 Refraction
Rainbows
refraction-reflection-refraction
 Diffraction

Diffraction
bending of waves around a
barrier
depends on the wavelength and
size of the opening barrier.
 Diffraction
Diffraction Gratings
glass or plastic made up of
many tiny parallel slits
may also be reflective
spectroscopes, reflective
rainbow stickers, CD surfaces
 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
 Interference
destructive  when the crest of
one wave meet the trough of the
other wave
 Interference
constructive  brighter light
destructive  dimmer light
 Interference

Thin Films - Bubbles & Oil

Slicks
interference results from double
reflection