Understanding Light:
Properties & Classifications
What is light?
◈ Light is many things. Think of list of 4 things that
you could say if you were to describe what light is.
◈ Think of its source. Does the source affect how you
describe it?
What is light
◈ Light is a form of energy that
you can see
◈ Earth’s main source of light
comes from the Sun.
◈ Sunlight travels to the Earth
through radiation.
What is light?
◈ Radiation: is the transfer
of energy without the
need for matter
(particles).
◈ You can feel the
heat From the sun, but
you aren't actually being
touched by its particles, it
is radiating heat energy
Types of Light
Natural Light Sources Artificial Light Sources
Natural light Artificial Light
Sun Light Bulb
Fire Flashlight
Types of light Aurora Borealis Igniters
Fireflies Candles
Angler fish Televisions
Lightning Monitors
Fireflies LCD Projectors
Device Screens
Glow Sticks
1st Basic Property of
Light
●Light is a form of energy.
●It carries energy and can
transfer that energy to
other forms.
1st Basic Property of Light
● When light hits the following:
● Black T-shirt – it is
transformed/absorbed into thermal
energy. (heat)
● Solar Panel – it is transformed into
electricity.
● Leaves of Plants – it is transformed
into glucose (photosynthesis)
1st Basic Property of
Light
❑ Intensity: how much
energy is contained in
the light (how bright).
❑ Glove box flashlight vs a
prison spotlight.
Is the moon a source of light?
◈To say that light is either natural or
artificial light is true, but we
Types of classify light using different terms:
Light ? Incandescent
? Luminescent
Incandescent
Sources
Incandescent Sources
• from the Latin incandescere, ”to glow white”
• When a material is heated until it produces visible light, this
is called incandescence.
• Different colors of light show different temperatures of heat.
• Almost all solid or liquid substances start to glow around
525 °C.
• Examples: light bulb, candle flame
Incandescent Sources
Positive Aspects of Incandescent Bulbs
• Cheap to buy
• Produce the full spectrum of colour
• Warm colours
Negative Aspects of Incandescent Bulbs
• Expensive to operate because of heat loss
• Inefficient
• Give off heat
• Burns?
• Using the oven on a hot summer day?
Incandescent
Sources
Incandescent
Filament
Sources
Electrical
Energy
Thermal
Energy
Visible Light
Energy Base
WATCH
Did you know?
95% of the energy
produced from
older incandescent
bulbs is heat
energy.
Luminescent
Sources
Luminescent Sources
• Do not require heat to produce light.
• 4 categories:
• Fluorescent
• Phosphorescent
• Chemiluminescent
• Bioluminescent
◈A tube or spiral-shaped bulb that
Fluorescent requires electricity
◈Electrical energy is absorbed by the
Sources particles of mercury vapour inside the
tube and invisible Ultraviolet (UV) light
is emitted.
◈UV light then hits the white phosphor
powder on the inside of the bulb and
gives off visible light.
◈Examples: fluorescent tubes + bulbs,
black light
Fluorescent Sources
Electrical energy
Energy absorbed by mercury
particles
Ultraviolet light energy
Energy is absorbed by phosphor
particles
Visible light energy
Watch
Fluorescent Sources
Positive Aspects of Floresent Lighting
• Cheaper to operate
• Efficient
• Longer lifespan
Negative Aspects of Floresent Lighting
• They are expensive to purchase
• They are Toxic
• Mercury
• Phosphor Coating
Did you know?
UV light is beyond the
visible spectrum of light
that we can see. The
Sun emits a lot of UV
light. When you are
exposed to too much
UV light reflecting off
the snow, it can cause a
painful condition called
snow blindness.
◈ Phosphorus – Greek “ the light bringer”
◈ Light energy is absorbed and released
even after the source is taken away.
◈ Place it back in front of a light source to
Phosphorescent increase intensity.
Source VIDEO
VIDEO
Examples: glow-in-the-dark stickers and
paint
Phosphorescent Source
Light energy is
absorbed and
stored
Light energy is
released after
source is removed
Chemiluminescent Sources
◈ Chemical reactions release light
energy.
VIDEO
◈ Examples: glow sticks
Chemiluminescent
Sources
Chemical reaction
occurs
Visible Light is
emitted
Bioluminescent Sources
◈ Living organisms produce light
through chemical reactions in the
body.
◈ Many deep sea creatures are
bioluminescent. WHY?
VIDEO
GLOWORMS
Examples: firefly, angler fish, glow
worms, algae, jellyfish
Bioluminescent Sources
Chemical
Visible Light is
reaction in
emitted
body
How might bioluminescence
be helpful to an organism?
New Terms
Add the following terms to your Terms Booklet:
? Incandescent
? Luminescent
? Fluorescent
? Phosphorescent
? Chemiluminescent
? Bioluminescent
Article Assignment
As Humans, we often strive to better our world. With
lighting this is no different. We have worked to find a
better, more efficient type of lighting. But sometimes
progress has detrimental effects. Read the following
article and complete the response for it.
[Link]
2000002587/
