LIGHT
NOTES
Introduction to Light
The world as we know it is largely known through senses, and the sense of sight is one
of the most important senses. It is only when the light from an object enters our eyes
that we see it. The light might have been either emitted by the object or reflected by it.
Some of the important terminologies related to light are:
Light is the energy that enables us to see. Light is emitted from a source such as the
Sun. The word usually refers to visible light, which is visible to the human eye and is
responsible for the sense of sight.
How do we see objects?
Our eyes alone do not allow us to see. Light from a source falls on an object and then
bounces off onto our eyes and that is how we perceive it.
Laws of Reflection
Reflection
Light gets reflected off surfaces. Any surface that is really well-polished or shiny acts as
a mirror. The phenomenon of light bouncing off surfaces is called reflection.
Laws of reflection
The ray of light that strikes a reflecting surface is called the incident ray, and the ray that gets
reflected back is called the reflected ray.
The imaginary line that is perpendicular to the reflecting surface is called the normal.
The angle of incidence ∠i is the angle between the incident ray and the normal. The angle of
reflection ∠r is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
Laws of Reflection: Angle of incidence ∠i is always equal to the Angle of reflection ∠r
(∠i=∠r). The angle of incidence, the angle of reflection and the normal all lie on the same
plane.
Ray Diagram
The path taken by a narrow beam of light is depicted as a ray diagram.
Regular and Diffused Reflection Reflection from a smooth surface
like a mirror that follows the laws of reflection is called a regular reflection.
Reflection over a surface that has irregularities where it does not follow the laws of
reflection is called an irregular or diffused reflection.
Image formation in a plane mirror
The image formed by a plane mirror is always virtual, erect, and the object and image are
equidistant from the mirror.
The image formed in a plane mirror undergoes lateral inversion.
Difference between the real and virtual image
A real image is formed by the actual convergence of light rays. In optics, a virtual image
is an image formed when the outgoing rays from a point on an object always diverge.
The image appears to be located at the point of apparent divergence. Because the rays
never really converge, a virtual image cannot be projected onto a screen.
Multiple reflections
Two mirrors inclined to each other give multiple images due to multiple reflections.
When an object is kept between two parallel plane mirrors, infinite images are form.
Calculating the total number of images
The number of images formed by plane mirrors is given by
n=360∘θ−1
.
Dispersion
Dispersion of light
The splitting of light into its component colours is called dispersion.
Example: Rainbow
Human Eye
Human Eye
The human eye is a spherically shaped sense organ (diameter about 2.3 cm) that gives
the sense of sight and helps us perceive colours and depth.
.
Functions of different organs in the human eye
Light enters the eye through a thin membrane that forms a transparent bulge on the front of
the eye, called the cornea.
Iris is a dark muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil.
The pupil is the small opening in the centre of the iris.
The lens, which is behind the pupil helps to adjust the focal length required to clearly focus
on objects at various distances.
The retina is the screen where the images get formed. It is a delicate membrane with a large
number of photosensitive cells called rods and cones.
Cones are sensitive to bright light, and rods are sensitive to dim light.
The optic nerve transmits the electrical signals from the eye to the brain.
Visual Defects
Visual defects
Visual defects include the inability to see near objects or the inability to see far objects.
In old people, the lens becomes cloudy, a condition called cataract that impairs vision.
Seeing Sans Eyes
Braille system
Braille is a system to read and write for visually impaired people.
Consists of 63 dot patterns or characters.
These patterns are embossed in braille sheets that can be recognized on touch.
The dots are raised in order to make it easier to touch.
The speed of light in water is approximately 225,000 kilometers per
second (2.25 × 10^8 meters per second). This is slower than the speed of
light in a vacuum, which is about 300,000 kilometers per second.
Explanation
Light slows down when it passes from one medium to another, such as from air into
water.
The speed and wavelength of light change, but the frequency remains the same.
The refractive index of water is 1.3.
The refractive index of a medium is related to the speed of light in that medium.
The formula for the refractive index is 𝑛=𝑐𝑣 where n is the refractive index and v is
the speed of light in the medium.
You can use the formula for the refractive index to calculate the speed of light in
water
The speed of light in air is about 299,792 kilometers per
second
