1: Characteristics of Light 2: Reflection of light 3: Laws of reflection Light : Light is a form of energy that enables us to see things. Light starts from a source and bounces off objects which are perceived by our eyes, and our brain processes this signal, which eventually enables us to see. Maxwell predicted that magnetic and electric fields travel in the form of waves, and these waves move at the speed of light. This led Maxwell to predict that light itself was carried by electromagnetic waves, which means that light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. ➢ Nature of Light Light behaves as a: • Ray, e.g. reflection • Wave, e.g. interference and diffraction • Particle, e.g. photoelectric effect
• According to the concept of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics, light exhibits both particle and wave nature, depending upon the circumstances. A phenomenon like diffraction, polarisation and interference could be explained by considering light as a wave. A phenomenon like the photoelectric effect is explained by assuming that light consists of particles called photons. • Characteristics of Light
1. Light does not need any medium to travel.
2. The speed of light in vacuum or free space is 3×108 m/s, in
water it is 2.25×108 m/s and in glass it is 2×108 m/s.
3. In a single medium Light travels from one point to another in
a straight line.
4. The velocity of light changes when it travels from one
medium to another.
5. The light gets reflected when it falls on a polished surface like
mirror.
6. The light undergoes refraction when it travels from one
transparent medium to another. Some important terms • SOURCE : A source of light is an object from which light is given out . Some sources of light are natural [Sun] and many others are man made sources. [Candles etc]
• SELF LUMINOUS : A self luminous source is that which posses light of its own. For eg the sun , the stars, electric lamps , candles etc are self luminous sources .
• NON LUMINOUS : A non luminous sources is that which doesn't posses light of its own. It receives light from any external source and scatters it to the surroundings for example the moon, book , table etc
• MEDIUM (optical): it is a substance through which light propagates or tries to do so.
There are three types of media of light :
a) Transparent : It is the medium through which light propagates
easily. For example air, water, glass etc.
b) Translucent : It is a medium through which light propagates
partially. For example paper.
c) Opaque : It is the medium through which light cannot propagate.
For example wood , metals etc. • Ray : A ray of light is the straight line path along which light travels. • It is represented by an arrow head on a straight line . • The arrow head represents the direction of propagation of light .
Ray • BEAM • A number of rays combined together forms a beam of light . • A narrow beam of light is called pencil of light.
Beam
A pencil may be of 3 types i) convergent ii) divergent iii) parallel.
• Reflection of light • It is the phenomenon of bouncing back of light in the same medium on striking the surface of any object. In reflection, the path of light rays changes without any change in medium. • Reflection is of two types 1. Regular reflection : When the reflecting surface is smooth and well polished, the parallel rays falling on it are reflected parallel to one another ,this is called regular reflection. Here <i = <r (always). 2. Irregular reflection : When the reflecting surface is rough , the parallel rays falling on it are reflected in different directions, such a refection is known as irregular reflection. Here <i ≠ <r • Laws of reflection • There are two laws of reflection i. 1st law : Acc. To first law the incident ray , the reflected ray and the normal (at the point of incidence) all lie in the same plane .
A N B
O AO : Incident ray OB : Reflected ray ON : Normal • 2nd law : The angle of reflection is always equal to angle of incidence <i = <r
