Light waves interact with materials in interesting ways. These interactions affect how we see the world around us. Here are the main types you might come across:
Reflection: This happens when light bounces off a surface. A good example is seeing yourself in a mirror! When light hits a surface, the angle it comes in at (called the angle of incidence) is the same as the angle it bounces away at (called the angle of reflection). You can think of it like this:
Refraction: This occurs when light travels from one substance to another, like moving from air into water. The light bends when this happens. This bending happens because the light changes speed. There’s a rule called Snell’s Law that helps explain this bending.
Absorption: Some materials soak up light and change it into other types of energy, usually heat. For example, darker colors tend to absorb more light, while lighter colors reflect it.
Transmission: This is when light goes through a material. Clear glass is a good example because it lets most of the light pass through, even if it looks a little different.
These interactions help shape our experiences with light. Whether we’re enjoying a sunny day or using technology, each of these phenomena helps us understand light and how it works better!
Light waves interact with materials in interesting ways. These interactions affect how we see the world around us. Here are the main types you might come across:
Reflection: This happens when light bounces off a surface. A good example is seeing yourself in a mirror! When light hits a surface, the angle it comes in at (called the angle of incidence) is the same as the angle it bounces away at (called the angle of reflection). You can think of it like this:
Refraction: This occurs when light travels from one substance to another, like moving from air into water. The light bends when this happens. This bending happens because the light changes speed. There’s a rule called Snell’s Law that helps explain this bending.
Absorption: Some materials soak up light and change it into other types of energy, usually heat. For example, darker colors tend to absorb more light, while lighter colors reflect it.
Transmission: This is when light goes through a material. Clear glass is a good example because it lets most of the light pass through, even if it looks a little different.
These interactions help shape our experiences with light. Whether we’re enjoying a sunny day or using technology, each of these phenomena helps us understand light and how it works better!