LIGHT

Science: 2nd Secondary Education

WHAT IS LIGHT?
Light is a form of electromagnetic energy. Very small particles called photons
move in a wave pattern.
Visible light is the light which allows you to see the colours and shapes of
objects. Light can come from a natural or an artificial source. Example: the Sun
is a natural source, and light bulbs, torches and candles are artificial sources.
We can see an object if it receives light. In this case, it absorbs some of the light,
and reflects the rest in all directions.
Objects can be:
Transparent: They do not absorb light and allow light to pass through.
Example: a glass, the air, etc.
Translucent: They absorb some light and allow some to pass through.
Example: onion skin paper, frosted glass, etc.
Opaque: They absorb most of the light they receive and do not allow light
to pass through. Example: a dark piece of paper, a piece of wood, etc.
1.- Translate these words:
Light:
Photon:
Transparent:
Translucent:

Wave pattern:
Opaque:

2.- Name one artificial source of light and one natural.

3.- What is visible light?:
4.- Why can we see objects?
5.- What is a photon?
6.- What is a transparent body?
7.- What is a translucent body?
8.- What is an opaque body?

LIGHT
Science: 2nd Secondary Education
PROPERTIES OF LIGHT:
-Speed of light: Light travels in a straight line and in waves. It does not require
a medium.
The speed depends on the medium. In a vacuum and in the air it is about
300,000 km/sec.
-Reflection of light: When a ray of light hits the surface, it bounces off, and
changes its direction. The incident ray hits the surface. The reflected ray
bounces off the surface. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of
reflection.
-Refraction occurs when light passes into a new material with different density
and starts to move at a different speed.

LIGHT
Science: 2nd Secondary Education
10.- Translate these words:
Speed of light:
Reflection of light:
Refraction of light:
Reflected ray:
Converging lenses:
Angle of incidence:
Angle of refraction:
Ray of light:

Incident ray:
Diverging lenses:
Angle of reflection:

11.- There are 150,000,000 km from the Sun to the Earth. How many seconds
does the light of the Sun need to arrive to the Earth?
12.- Label this picture:

13.- Consider the diagram at the right. Which one of the angles (A, B, C, or D) is
the angle of incidence? ______
Which one of the angles is the angle of reflection? ______

14.- A ray of light is incident towards a plane mirror at an angle of 30-degrees

with the mirror surface. What will be the angle of reflection?

LIGHT
Science: 2nd Secondary Education
15.-Do you think angle of incidence is equal to angle of refraction? Why?

16.- What does each letter represent?

HOW CAN EYES SEE COLORS?

Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves visible to the human
eyes. Eyes can see these waves as the colours of the rainbow. Each colour has
a different wavelength and your retina can distinguish these different
wavelengths. Then your brain interprets this information as colours.
17.- Translate these words:
Eye:
Visible light:
Wave:
Colors (or colours):
Wavelength:
Electromagnetic waves:

Brain:
Retina:
Rainbow:

18.-Hyperopia is a defect of the eye. The images are formed behind the retina.
Myopia is a defect of the eye. The images are formed in front of the retina.
Label the pictures with the words normal, myopia and hyperopia: