WHAT
IS
LIGHT?
LIGHT
• Source of useable power = ENGERY
– Other forms of energy include HEAT and SOUND
• Travels in waves and travels very fast!
Important Terms about Light
• Reflection = when rays of light are reflected,
or bounce off other objects
• Refraction = when light goes from one
medium to another and is bent (for example,
from air to water)
• Diffraction = when a wave of light hits an
obstacle
• Transmission = the ability of light to pass
through different mediums or substances
Reflection
Reflection
Refraction
Prism
• A clear glass or plastic shape that breaks light
into the color spectrum
• A prism reflects or
refracts light
Spectrum
• The colors Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo
and Violet all arranged in order by their wavelength
and all can be seen when white light passes
through a prism
Spectrum
• A red shirt REFLECTS the color red and ABSORBS all
the other colors in the visible spectrum
• A white shirt REFLECTS all the colors in the spectrum
• A black shirt ABSORBS all the colors in the spectrum
• Absorption = taking in or swallowing up energy