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Physical Science

The document discusses various interactions of light waves including reflection, absorption, scattering, refraction, diffraction, interference, and lenses. Reflection occurs when light bounces off an object. Refraction causes light to bend when passing from one medium to another, which can create optical illusions. Diffraction causes light to bend around barriers, with greater bending for wavelengths similar in size to the barrier. Interference results from overlapping waves, producing constructive or destructive interference. Lenses refract light to form images, with convex lenses refracting light inward and concave lenses refracting light outward.

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19 views

Physical Science

The document discusses various interactions of light waves including reflection, absorption, scattering, refraction, diffraction, interference, and lenses. Reflection occurs when light bounces off an object. Refraction causes light to bend when passing from one medium to another, which can create optical illusions. Diffraction causes light to bend around barriers, with greater bending for wavelengths similar in size to the barrier. Interference results from overlapping waves, producing constructive or destructive interference. Lenses refract light to form images, with convex lenses refracting light inward and concave lenses refracting light outward.

Uploaded by

rishit.yadav1102
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Ch.

22 – The Nature of Light

Section 3
Interactions of Light Waves
Essential Questions

• How does reflection allow you to see things?


• Compare and contrast absorption and
scattering.
• How can refraction create optical illusions and
separate white light into colors?
• What is the relationship between diffraction
and wavelength?
• Compare and contrast constructive and
destructive interference of light.
Reflection

• Reflection happens when light


waves bounce off an object.
Light reflects off objects all
around you.
• The Law of Reflection states
that the angle of incidence is
equal to the angle of reflection.
Absorption and Scattering

• The transfer of energy carried by


light waves is called absorption.
• When a beam of light shines
through the air, particles in the air
absorb some of the light’s energy.
Therefore, the beam of light
becomes dim.
• An interaction of light with
matter that causes light to change
direction is scattering.
• Light scatters in all directions
after colliding with particles of
matter.
Refraction

• Refraction is the bending of a


wave as it passes at an angle from
one material to another.
• Refraction of light waves occurs
because the speed of light varies
depending on the medium
through which the waves are
traveling.
• When a wave enters a new
material at an angle, the part of
the wave that enters first begins
traveling at a different speed
from that of the rest of the wave.
• This causes an optical illusion.
Because of refraction, the cat and the
fish see optical illusions.
• Waves with short wavelengths bend more than waves
with long wavelengths.
• White light can be separated into different colors during
refraction, as shown below.
Diffraction

• Diffraction is the bending of


waves around barriers or through
openings.

• The amount a wave diffracts


depends on its wavelength and
the size of the barrier or opening.
• The greatest amount of
diffraction occurs when the
barrier or opening is the same
size or smaller than the
wavelength.
Interference

• Interference is what happens when


two or more waves overlap: can be
constructive or destructive (See Fig. 9
pg. 650)
• Constructive Interference –
amplitude, or height, increases ( you
see the light bands)
• Destructive Interference – amplitude
decreases (you see dark bands)
Lenses

• A lens is a transparent object


that refracts light to form an
image.

• Convex lenses are thicker in


the middle than at the edges.
When light passes through a
convex lens, the beams are
refracted toward each other.
• Concave lenses are thinner in
the middle than at the edges.
When light beams pass
through a concave lens, the
beams are refracted away
from each other.

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