Light
Wave Behaviors and
Properties Chart
(pg. 76)
Behavior 1: Refraction
• Refraction occurs when a
wave bends.
• A wave bends as it enters a
new medium.
• Speed changes as the
medium changes.
• More bending =greater
change in speed.
Behavior 1: Refraction
• Refraction of light going from air through a
convex lens, for example, can make images
appear larger as the light waves bend.
Behavior 1: Refraction
• Prisms (and other diffraction gratings)
separate white light into its different colors.
• Bends light at different angles depending on
the frequency.
– The different colors consist of red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, and violet.
– Red = lowest frequency
– Violet = highest frequency
Behavior 2: Reflection
• Reflection occurs
when a wave
bounces off of a
medium.
• Plane mirrors reflect
light to form clear
images.
Behavior 3: Transmission
• Occurs when a wave
passes through a
medium.
• Transparent &
translucent materials
transmit light.
Transparent
• Allow most of the light
that strikes to pass
through.
• Can be clear or
colored material such
as filters.
• Only a small amount
of light is reflected /
absorbed.
Translucent
• Transmits some light
while the rest is
scattered. No clear
image is seen.
Behavior 4: Absorption
• Occurs when energy
is not transferred
through or reflected
by medium.
• Some opaque
objects absorb light
waves.
Opaque
• Allow no light waves to be transmitted
through. They reflect or absorb all
light.
• Cannot see an image on the other side
of the object.
LIGHT WAVE PROPERTIES
Amplitude
 The higher the amplitude, the brighter the light.
Wavelength/Frequency
 Long wavelength = low frequency
 Short wavelength = high frequency
 The higher the frequency, the greater the energy produced
by the wave.
Speed
 All electromagnetic waves (including light waves) travel at the
same speed in an empty space (vacuum).
 Speed changes when they travel through a medium.
The Eye
Iris – A ring of muscle that
gives the eye its color and
controls the size of the pupil.
Pupil – Part of the eye that
looks black; an opening into
the eye.
Cornea – Light waves that have
been given off or reflected by an
object, enter the eye and first
pass through the transparent
layer called the cornea where
they are refracted.
Lens – The light rays are
then refracted again as
they pass through the
transparent lens
(convex).
Retina – The lens focuses the
light waves on the retina, located
on the back of the inside of the
eye. They generate small nerve
signals when hit by light.
Optic Nerve – Nerve
impulses from the retina
are transmitted through
the optic nerve to the
brain for interpretation as
sight.