Light Source

Color

Light or "white light" is made up of all of the colors of light mixed together. *White Light can be separated into light of different colors using a prism. *The colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (colors seen in a rainbow). *The colors are related to different amounts of energy in white light. *The color of an object depends on the color it reflects. Example: White light hits the grass, ALL colors of the rainbow are absorbed EXCEPT green. Green is reflected, so it is the color you see. *When an object appears WHITE, ALL light is being REFLECTED. *When an object appears BLACK, ALL is being ABSORBED.

Transparent

___________ materials- allow ALL light to pass through easily , so whatever is behind can be CLEARLY seen.

Prism

an object that separates white light into bands of colored light.

Visibility

in order to be visible, an object must either give off its own light (be a light source) or it must reflect light. *Gives off visible light (are light sources): sun, candle, fire, flashlight *Reflection allows objects to be seen that do not produce their own light *Reflects light: moon

Light

is a form of energy we detect with our eyes. It is made up of waves with different wavelengths. Light travels in a straight line. Our biggest/greatest source of light is the sun.

Energy

is the ability to make something move, happen, or change.

Brightness

is the amount of light the eye receives from a source. *How bright a light source appears to be depends on the amount of light a source gives off, this is called intensity and the distance to the light source *The closer to the source, the greater the intensity or brightness.

Visible spectrum

light energy that can be seen and broken into the colors of the rainbow.

Translucent

materials- allow SOME light to pass through, but scatters light in different directions. It is not easily seen through. Objects appear as blurry shapes when viewed through translucent materials.

Opaque

materials- block light completely and cast a shadow, NO light can pass through. Examples: wood, metals, thick paper

Refraction

the bending of light as it passes from one transparent material (glass, water, or clear plastic) to another and changes direction. Examples: When light travels through a magnifying glass, it bends (changes direction) and we see a larger, magnified view of the object. When a straw is viewed in water, light passes from the water to the air causing the path of light to bend. When the light bends, the straw appears

Electromagnetic Spectrum

the range of waves that make up light.

Reflection

when a light wave hits a surface and bounces off *Most of the light that hits your eyes is reflected. *Light reflects the most off of smooth, shiny surfaces. When light strikes a smooth, shiny object, it is reflected so than an image can be seen. Think of a pool of water or a mirror, light hits it and reflects back an image very similar to the object. *The color of an object depends on the color it reflects.

Absorption

when light is absorbed it does not pass through or reflect from a material. It remains in the material as another form of energy.