Visible Light
Light can be generated in two ways: naturally and man-made. Most of our light comes from the Sun.
Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation; in fact it is the only type of electromagnetic radiation that we can see with the human eye. It travels in waves known as electromagnetic waves.
The sun radiates Ultraviolet light (UV rays), which is not visible to the human eye. These waves have a wavelength of m.
When we talk about the light that we can see, we are referring to visible light. Light is measured depending on the wavelength of the beam. Wavelengths are measured using nanometers (nm). The colour that we see depends on the wavelength of the beam. The wavelength of visible light varies from 400 nanometers (nm), which is violet, to 700nm, which is red. This means that the colour violet has a smaller wavelength than red.
Because visible light beams have such small wavelengths, the beams pretty much travel in straight lines. The ‘speed of light’ that is often referred to is how fast light travels in space through a vacuum. When it reaches our atmosphere it slows down due to the elements surrounding it. However light can be reflected by something. Reflection occurs when a beam of light rebounds off something, such as a mirror. A ray of incidence is the beam of light that travels towards the reflective surface. A ray of reflection is what we call the beam that travels away from the surface.
When light travels through a medium, what we see can be altered. A medium can be water, glass, etc. When the light hits the surface of the medium, it usually splits in two. Some of the light reflects off of the medium, whereas the other part continues to travel through the medium. The light that travels through the medium bends. Depending on what the medium is, the light will bend at a different angle.
Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation; in fact it is the only type of electromagnetic radiation that we can see with the human eye. It travels in waves known as electromagnetic waves.
The sun radiates Ultraviolet light (UV rays), which is not visible to the human eye. These waves have a wavelength of m.
When we talk about the light that we can see, we are referring to visible light. Light is measured depending on the wavelength of the beam. Wavelengths are measured using nanometers (nm). The colour that we see depends on the wavelength of the beam. The wavelength of visible light varies from 400 nanometers (nm), which is violet, to 700nm, which is red. This means that the colour violet has a smaller wavelength than red.
Because visible light beams have such small wavelengths, the beams pretty much travel in straight lines. The ‘speed of light’ that is often referred to is how fast light travels in space through a vacuum. When it reaches our atmosphere it slows down due to the elements surrounding it. However light can be reflected by something. Reflection occurs when a beam of light rebounds off something, such as a mirror. A ray of incidence is the beam of light that travels towards the reflective surface. A ray of reflection is what we call the beam that travels away from the surface.
When light travels through a medium, what we see can be altered. A medium can be water, glass, etc. When the light hits the surface of the medium, it usually splits in two. Some of the light reflects off of the medium, whereas the other part continues to travel through the medium. The light that travels through the medium bends. Depending on what the medium is, the light will bend at a different angle.