Properties of Light

• Forms of energy (electromagnetic radiation)
• Electromagnetic waves have a specific frequency and wavelength
• Does not require a material to transmit through (can pass through a vaccum)
• Travels very fast
• When light hits a surface:
• When light hits a surface it can be:

  • transmitted
  • reflected
  • absorbed
• Transparent:

  • Almost all light is transmitted through the substance
  • Clear image visible
  • E.g Clear plastic, glass, water
• Translucent:

  • Some light is reflected and light that passes through is scattered
  • Fuzzy image is seen
  • E.g Frosted glass, ice, nails
• Opaque:

  • Light is reflected or absorbed
  • No light is transmitted
  • No image is seen through
  • E.g clothes, bricks - anything that isn't see through
• Luminous - an object that releases or emits light
• Reflection - light bouncing off an object and into the eyes
• Regular reflection:

  • When light reflects off a very smooth surface
  • Produces a very clear image
• Diffuse reflection:

  • When light reflects off a rough surface
  • It gets reflected/scattered in many directions
  • Does not form an image