13.1. Fundamentals of Light http://www.ck12.org
- What was changed in the equationv=λfin this concept?
- What color of visible light has the shortest wavelength?
- How are we able to see objects that do not generate light?
- Of what colors does white light consist?
- Why can’t sound waves be polarized?
- What happens to the wavelength of light as the frequency increases?
- The sky appears darker when viewed through a polarizing filter. Why?
- What color will a yellow banana appear when illuminated by
(a) white light?
(b) yellow light?
(c) blue light?
- electromagnetic radiation: Energy consisting of self-sustaining oscillating electric and magnetic fields at
right angles to each other and to the direction of propagation. It does not require a supporting medium and
travels through empty space at the speed of light. - light:Visible light (commonly referred to simply as light) is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the
human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has a wavelength in the range of about 380
nanometres to about 740 nm –between the invisible infrared and the invisible ultraviolet. - spectrum:The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
- transparent:Capable of transmitting light so that objects or images can be seen as if there were no intervening
material. - translucent:Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusion to prevent perception of distinct images.
- opaque:Impenetrable by light; neither transparent nor translucent.
- luminous:Emitting self-generated light.
- illuminated:An object upon which electromagnetic radiation from some source is falling.
- polarized light:A phenomenon in which the waves of light or other electromagnetic radiation are restricted
to certain directions of vibration, usually specified in terms of the electric field vector.