LIGHT

Opaque, Translucent, Transparent

• Opaque – only absorbs and reflects light• Translucent – allows some light to pass

through, some light absorbed and reflected• Transparent – allows almost all the light to

pass through, only a small amount of light absorbed and reflected

OPAQUETRANSPARENTTRANSLUCENT

Law of Reflection• The angle at which a light wave strikes a

surface is the same as the angle at which it is reflected.

Regular vs. Diffuse Reflection

Refraction• Caused by a change in the speed of light

• If the light wave is traveling at an angle and the speed that light travels is different in the two materials the wave will be bent (refracted)

Normal

Incident Ray

Refracted Ray

Air

Water

Angle ofIncidence

Angle ofRefraction

Prism

Mirage • A result of the air above the ground being

much warmer or cooler than the ground, causing refraction due to a change in the speed the light is traveling