cannot see any object in the darkness. Light is needed to see things. How do we see?
When Light falls on an object, it
is reflected by the object or bounces off the object. This reflected light enters our eyes and we can see the object that reflects it. We detect light with our eyes. 3 Sources of light An object which gives out light is called a source of light.
Torch
Sun Tube - light Electric bulb
Kerosene oil Candles Firefly (Glow - worm) lamp 4 Sources of light All the sources of light can be divided into two groups:
1. Natural sources of light: Those sources of light which occur in
nature as such are called natural sources of light. Example: Sun, stars, firefly, shooting stars (meteors).
2. Man - made sources of light: Those sources of light which have
been made by man are called man - made sources of light (or artificial sources of light). Example: Electric bulb, tube - light, kerosene oil lamp, candle, torch...etc. 5 Sources of light
6 Sources of light ACTIVITY Draw the diagram for the following: Natural sources of light
Man - made sources of light
7 Luminous objects An object which gives out its own light is called a luminous object. Examples: The sun, stars, burning candle, lighted electric bulb, lighted torch, glowing tube - light, television screen, a piece of red hot iron, flame of gas burner.
The luminous objects are the sources of light. Since luminous objects gives out their own light, they can be seen even in the dark. A luminous object can be seen because the light given out by it enters our eyes. 8 Non Luminous objects An object which does not give out its own light is called a non - luminous object. Examples: Table, chair, book, flower - pot, plants, trees, clothes, bag, carpet, mirror, camera, diamond, pen, moon, earth, planets….etc.
The non - luminous objects can be seen only when light coming from a luminous object (like sun, electric bulb, torch...etc) falls on them. We can see the non - luminous objects because they reflect light received from a luminous object into ours eyes. Example : We can see the moon because it reflects sunlight into our eyes. 9 10 Transparent, Translucent and opaque materials When the light falls on a material (or object), then: 1. All the light can pass through the material - Transparent material 2. Only some light can pass through the material - Translucent material 3. No light pass through the material - opaque material
Depending on the behaviour of
objects/materials towards light, all the materials can be classified as transparent, translucent and opaque. 11 Transparent, Translucent and opaque materials 1. Transparent materials: Those materials which allow all the materials to pass through them are called transparent materials. Example: glass, polythene, air, water, etc…
2. Translucent materials: Those materials which allow
only some of the light to pass through them are called translucent materials. Example: frosted glass, butter paper, oiled paper, tissue paper, clouds, etc.
3. Opaque Materials: Those materials which do not
allow any light to pass through them are called opaque materials. Example: cardboard, book, metal sheet, brick wall, stone, etc.
12 13 Ray of light and Beam of light Light spreads out in all directions from luminous body or a source of light. That’s why when we switch on a lamp at the center of a room, the light spreads to all corners.
Ray of light: The direction or path along which, light energy travels in a medium is called a ray of light. It is represented by a straight line with an arrow marked on it. Ray of light representation
Beam of light: A group of light rays is called a beam of light. A beam of light may be parallel, convergent or divergent.
14 How light travels?
Follow the steps below:
1. Take a cardboard sheet / thick chart sheet 2. Make 5 small slits/cuts using blade and Mark them from 1 to 5. ACTIVITY 3. Hold the sheet in front of any source of light. 4. Note the behaviour of light coming out of 5 slits according to numbers. 5. Place a glass of water infront of cardboard and note if there is any change in the path of light.
15 16 How light travels?
ACTIVITY
17 Light travels in straight lines
Torch light in dark room Spot lights or searchlights
We always see that the beam of light produced by torch travels in straight lines. The beam of search lights or sport lights also travels in straight.
The direction of the rays changed when they passed through another medium (like in case of glass of water in the activity). But the rays continued to move in straight lines.
If we place any opaque object (like a book) in front of ray of light, we won’t be able to see the rays. They will be blocked by the opaque object because they cannot curve around it. The property of light travelling in straight line is called rectilinear propagation of light. 18
