KS3 - Light Waves

transparent

describes materials that you can clearly see ​
through because they let light pass through them​

transmit

if light passes through a material, we say that material transmits light​

opaque

describes materials you can’t see through at all, as these materials do not let any light pass through them

light ray

an arrow added to a diagram to show the direction that some light is travelling​

shadow

an unlit area in the shape of an object that is blocking light

protractor

a device used to measure angles​

normal

another way of saying ‘at 90°’; a ‘normal line’ is at 90° to a surface​

reflect

to hit the surface and ‘bounce’ off​

incident

the incoming light wave striking a surface before reflection or refraction occurs

angle of incidence

the angle between the incident ray and the normal when light hits a mirror​

luminous

describes something that gives out light​

non-luminous

describes something that does not give out light​

scatter

to reflect light in many directions at once​

pupil

the hole in the front of the eye that lets light into the eye​

retina

the back surface of the eye that detects light​

reflection

the process of light ‘bouncing off’ a surface and an image seen in a mirror​

image

a representation of an object​

inverted

describes an image that has been ‘flipped’