Electromagnetic Spectrum, Light Properties, and Mirror Types for Physics Students

What is light?

Light is a type of electromagnetic energy that can travel through empty space.

What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

3.00 × 10⁸ m/s

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

A list of all the different kinds of electromagnetic waves, from lowest frequency (Radio) to highest frequency (Gamma ray).

What part of the electromagnetic spectrum can our eyes see?

Visible light

What is a wavefront?

An imaginary line showing where the wave is at the same point in its movement.

What is luminous flux?

The total amount of visible light a source gives off, measured in lumens (lm).

What is luminous intensity?

The amount of light sent in a particular direction, measured in candelas (cd).

What is illuminance?

The amount of light that reaches a surface, measured in lux (lx).

What is luminance?

How bright a surface appears when light comes from it or reflects from it, measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m²).

What are the three types of materials based on light transmission?

Transparent, translucent, and opaque.

What are the primary colors of light?

Red, Green, Blue.

What happens when you mix red and green light?

You get yellow light.

What is reflection?

When light hits a surface and bounces back.

What is the law of reflection?

Angle of incidence = angle of reflection.

What is a plane mirror?

A flat mirror that creates an upright, virtual image the same size as the object.

What is a concave mirror?

A mirror that curves inward and can produce real or virtual images of varying sizes.

What is a convex mirror?

A mirror that curves outward and always produces a virtual, upright, smaller image.

What is the measurement for angle of incidence?

Measured in degrees (°).

What is the wavelength range of visible light?

Approximately 400-700 nm.

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

Shorter wavelength = higher frequency; longer wavelength = lower frequency.