LIGHT ENERGY NOTES:

1. Light is a form of Energy

A. Energy is the ability to do work

B. Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed,

it can only change form.
EXAMPLE: In an incandescent lightbulb,
electrical energy some turns to light energy most turns to heat energy

C. Waves carry the Energy of Light.

2. Two types of waves

a. Compression: 
Particles move in the
direction of the wave QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
(sometimes called are needed to see this picture.
Longitudinal waves)

b. Transverse: 
Particles move side to side

3. Characteristics of Waves
a. Amplitude: The height of the wave
that is above the normal level.
(More energy=bigger amplitude)
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
b. Wavelength: The distance between are needed to see this picture.
2 crests or troughs

c. Frequency: The number of waves

that pass by every second.
Draw:
High Frequency Waves 

Low Frequency Waves 

d. Example:
In the visible light
spectrum, blue has the QuickTime™ and a
decompressor Red
are needed to see this picture.
shortest wavelengths  has the longest
wavelengths

REMEMBER HERSCHELS’ EXP? White light is a combination of all the colors in the rainbow

4. REFLECTION:
a) When an object or wave hits a surface
through which it cannot pass, it bounces
back.

b)The Law of Reflection – the angle of

incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
(In other words, the angle coming into the
mirror equals the angle coming off of the
mirror.)

c) Examples:
 Light strikes your face and is reflected into a mirror, then the light reflects
off the mirror into your eyes
 When the moon shines, it’s just reflecting the sunlight that hits it.
 Sound – an echo occurs when sound reflects off another surface

5. REFRACTION:
a) When a wave enters a new medium at an angle, one side of the wave changes speed
before the other side, causing the wave to
bend.

b) Example: Refraction at the water surface

gives the "broken pencil" effect.

6. When light strikes an object:

a. Transparent Materials like water & glass transmit most of the light that hits it. (You can
see through these.)
b. Translucent Materials like frosted glass scatters light as it passes through. (You can see
some of the light, but details are blurry.)
c. Opaque Materials reflect or absorb all the light that strike it. (You can’t see through)