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18 Apr 2023
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How Light Travels: Straight Lines, Reflection & Refraction for Kids
A
Aminah Bilal
@aminahbilal_yngt
Reflection and Mirrors
This section delves into the principles of reflection and how light interacts with mirrors and other reflective surfaces.
Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface. The behavior of reflected light follows specific rules:
- The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
- The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.
Vocabulary: The angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming light ray and the normal, while the angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
Types of reflection:
- Specular reflection: Occurs on smooth, shiny surfaces like mirrors, producing clear images
- Diffuse reflection: Happens on rough, uneven surfaces, scattering light in various directions
Example: A plane mirror produces a laterally inverted image, where left becomes right and vice versa. This is because your brain assumes light travels in straight lines and interprets the reflected light as coming from behind the mirror.
Ray diagrams are used to illustrate the path of light during reflection:
- Incident ray: The incoming light ray
- Point of incidence: Where the light ray hits the surface
- Normal: The perpendicular line at the point of incidence
- Reflected ray: The light ray bouncing off the surface
Highlight: In a plane mirror, parallel rays are reflected as parallel rays, producing a clear image. On rough surfaces, light rays are reflected in different directions, resulting in diffuse reflection.
Refraction and Dispersion
This section explores how light behaves when passing through different mediums and the phenomenon of dispersion.
Refraction is the bending of light that occurs when it passes between mediums of different densities. Key points about refraction include:
- Light changes speed when moving between mediums of different densities.
- When light enters a denser medium, it slows down and bends towards the normal.
- When light enters a less dense medium, it speeds up and bends away from the normal.
Definition: The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal in the second medium.
Ray diagrams for refraction show:
- Incident ray in the first medium
- Normal at the boundary between mediums
- Refracted ray in the second medium
- Emergent ray when light exits the second medium
Highlight: Sometimes, light rays never leave the denser substance and are reflected internally. This phenomenon is called total internal reflection.
Dispersion occurs when white light passes through a prism:
- White light separates into its component colors .
- Each color has a different wavelength and is refracted by a different amount.
- Red light has the longest wavelength and is refracted the least, while violet has the shortest wavelength and is refracted the most.
Example: The colors of the spectrum can be remembered using the mnemonic "ROY G. BIV" .
Vocabulary: The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which light is refracted along the surface between two mediums, beyond which total internal reflection occurs.
Understanding these principles of light, reflection, and refraction is crucial for various applications in optics, photography, and everyday life.
Light and Its Properties
Light is a form of energy that travels in straight lines through waves. This section explores the nature of light and its basic properties.
- Light sources are objects that emit light, such as the sun or a lamp.
- Light travels in straight lines in all directions from its source.
- Waves can be categorized into two types: Longitudinal waves that transfer energy through particles Transverse waves or electromagnetic waves that don't require particles to travel
Vocabulary: Luminous objects give off light, while non-luminous objects only reflect light from other sources.
When light interacts with objects, it can:
- Be transmitted
- Be reflected
- Be absorbed
Example: When reading a book under a lamp, light from the lamp hits the book, reflects off the page, and enters your eye. Some light also reaches your eye directly from the lamp.
Objects can be classified based on how they interact with light:
- Transparent: Allow light to pass through clearly
- Translucent: Let light through but scatter it, making objects appear blurry
- Opaque: Do not allow light to pass through
Highlight: White and pale objects reflect most of the light shining on them, while darker objects absorb more light.
Shadows are formed when an opaque object blocks the path of light:
- A small light source produces a sharp shadow called an umbra
- A large light source creates a fuzzy-edged shadow known as a penumbra
Definition: The normal is an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the surface at the point where a light ray hits it.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
How Light Travels: Straight Lines, Reflection & Refraction for Kids
A
Aminah Bilal
@aminahbilal_yngt
Light and Optics: Understanding How Light Travels and Interacts with Objects
This comprehensive guide explores the fundamental principles of light, its properties, and how it interacts with various objects. It covers topics such as light waves, reflection, refraction... Show more
Reflection and Mirrors
This section delves into the principles of reflection and how light interacts with mirrors and other reflective surfaces.
Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface. The behavior of reflected light follows specific rules:
- The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
- The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.
Vocabulary: The angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming light ray and the normal, while the angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
Types of reflection:
- Specular reflection: Occurs on smooth, shiny surfaces like mirrors, producing clear images
- Diffuse reflection: Happens on rough, uneven surfaces, scattering light in various directions
Example: A plane mirror produces a laterally inverted image, where left becomes right and vice versa. This is because your brain assumes light travels in straight lines and interprets the reflected light as coming from behind the mirror.
Ray diagrams are used to illustrate the path of light during reflection:
- Incident ray: The incoming light ray
- Point of incidence: Where the light ray hits the surface
- Normal: The perpendicular line at the point of incidence
- Reflected ray: The light ray bouncing off the surface
Highlight: In a plane mirror, parallel rays are reflected as parallel rays, producing a clear image. On rough surfaces, light rays are reflected in different directions, resulting in diffuse reflection.
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Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Refraction and Dispersion
This section explores how light behaves when passing through different mediums and the phenomenon of dispersion.
Refraction is the bending of light that occurs when it passes between mediums of different densities. Key points about refraction include:
- Light changes speed when moving between mediums of different densities.
- When light enters a denser medium, it slows down and bends towards the normal.
- When light enters a less dense medium, it speeds up and bends away from the normal.
Definition: The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal in the second medium.
Ray diagrams for refraction show:
- Incident ray in the first medium
- Normal at the boundary between mediums
- Refracted ray in the second medium
- Emergent ray when light exits the second medium
Highlight: Sometimes, light rays never leave the denser substance and are reflected internally. This phenomenon is called total internal reflection.
Dispersion occurs when white light passes through a prism:
- White light separates into its component colors .
- Each color has a different wavelength and is refracted by a different amount.
- Red light has the longest wavelength and is refracted the least, while violet has the shortest wavelength and is refracted the most.
Example: The colors of the spectrum can be remembered using the mnemonic "ROY G. BIV" .
Vocabulary: The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which light is refracted along the surface between two mediums, beyond which total internal reflection occurs.
Understanding these principles of light, reflection, and refraction is crucial for various applications in optics, photography, and everyday life.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Light and Its Properties
Light is a form of energy that travels in straight lines through waves. This section explores the nature of light and its basic properties.
- Light sources are objects that emit light, such as the sun or a lamp.
- Light travels in straight lines in all directions from its source.
- Waves can be categorized into two types: Longitudinal waves that transfer energy through particles Transverse waves or electromagnetic waves that don't require particles to travel
Vocabulary: Luminous objects give off light, while non-luminous objects only reflect light from other sources.
When light interacts with objects, it can:
- Be transmitted
- Be reflected
- Be absorbed
Example: When reading a book under a lamp, light from the lamp hits the book, reflects off the page, and enters your eye. Some light also reaches your eye directly from the lamp.
Objects can be classified based on how they interact with light:
- Transparent: Allow light to pass through clearly
- Translucent: Let light through but scatter it, making objects appear blurry
- Opaque: Do not allow light to pass through
Highlight: White and pale objects reflect most of the light shining on them, while darker objects absorb more light.
Shadows are formed when an opaque object blocks the path of light:
- A small light source produces a sharp shadow called an umbra
- A large light source creates a fuzzy-edged shadow known as a penumbra
Definition: The normal is an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the surface at the point where a light ray hits it.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user