Light waves are a kind of energy that travels super fast, about 300 million meters every second when they’re in space. They can act like both waves and tiny particles, which scientists call wave-particle duality.
Wavelength: You can think of light waves like ocean waves. One way we describe them is by their wavelength, which is how long the waves are. We usually measure this in tiny units called nanometers (nm).
Frequency: Another important part is frequency. This refers to how often the waves go up and down. There’s a simple formula that connects wavelength and frequency:
Speed of Light = Wavelength × Frequency
(The speed of light is often called "c".)
Light is just a small part of something called the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes different types of energy. Light that we can see ranges from about 400 nanometers (violet) to 700 nanometers (red). Here are some other types of electromagnetic energy:
Reflection: Light bounces back when it hits shiny surfaces, like a mirror.
Refraction: Light bends when it moves from one material to another, like when it goes from air into water.
Diffraction: Light spreads out when it goes around obstacles, like a shadow.
Interference: Light waves can mix together, creating different patterns and colors.
These behaviors help us understand how light works in different situations!
Light waves are a kind of energy that travels super fast, about 300 million meters every second when they’re in space. They can act like both waves and tiny particles, which scientists call wave-particle duality.
Wavelength: You can think of light waves like ocean waves. One way we describe them is by their wavelength, which is how long the waves are. We usually measure this in tiny units called nanometers (nm).
Frequency: Another important part is frequency. This refers to how often the waves go up and down. There’s a simple formula that connects wavelength and frequency:
Speed of Light = Wavelength × Frequency
(The speed of light is often called "c".)
Light is just a small part of something called the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes different types of energy. Light that we can see ranges from about 400 nanometers (violet) to 700 nanometers (red). Here are some other types of electromagnetic energy:
Reflection: Light bounces back when it hits shiny surfaces, like a mirror.
Refraction: Light bends when it moves from one material to another, like when it goes from air into water.
Diffraction: Light spreads out when it goes around obstacles, like a shadow.
Interference: Light waves can mix together, creating different patterns and colors.
These behaviors help us understand how light works in different situations!