Properties and Behavior of Light

Nature: Light is an electromagnetic wave that exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties (wave-particle duality).
Speed: Travels at approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (in a vacuum).
Wavelength: The distance between successive peaks of a wave; determines color in visible light.
Frequency: The number of waves that pass a point per second; inversely proportional to wavelength.

Visible Light: The portion of the spectrum that is visible to the human eye (approximately 400-700 nm).
Other Types: Includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, which differ in wavelength and frequency.

Reflection: Bouncing of light off surfaces; follows the law of reflection (angle of incidence = angle of reflection).
Refraction: Bending of light as it passes from one medium to another; depends on the refractive indices of the materials.
Diffraction: The spreading of light waves when they encounter an obstacle or slit.
Interference: The phenomenon where two light waves superpose to form a resultant wave, resulting in patterns of constructive and destructive interference.

Additive Color Mixing: Combining different colors of light to create new colors; primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB).
Subtractive Color Mixing: Mixing pigments or dyes; primary colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY).

Photoreceptors: Rods (sensitive to low light, no color) and cones (sensitive to color).
Color Perception: The brain interprets signals from cones to perceive color; influenced by lighting conditions.

Optics: Study of light behavior; includes lenses, mirrors, and optical instruments.
Photography: Capturing images through the interaction of light with photosensitive materials.
Communication: Fiber optics use light to transmit data over long distances efficiently.

Intensity: Brightness of light, related to the amount of energy per unit area.
Polarization: Orientation of light waves; can be natural or induced.
Luminosity: Measure of the total amount of light emitted by a source.

Light exhibits wave-particle duality, manifesting as both an electromagnetic wave and particle.
Travels at a speed of approximately 299,792 kilometers per second in a vacuum.
Wavelength determines color in visible light, measured as the distance between successive wave peaks.
Frequency indicates how many waves pass a point per second and is inversely related to wavelength.

Visible light ranges from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers and is the part of the spectrum seen by the human eye.
The spectrum includes various types: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, differing in wavelength and frequency.

Reflection occurs when light bounces off surfaces, adhering to the law of reflection (angle of incidence equals angle of reflection).
Refraction is the bending of light when passing from one medium to another, influenced by the materials' refractive indices.
Diffraction is the spreading of light waves upon encountering an obstacle or slit.
Interference results from superposition of two light waves, creating patterns of constructive and destructive interference.

Natural light sources include the Sun, stars, and bioluminescent organisms producing light through biological processes.
Artificial light sources encompass incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lights, LEDs, and lasers developed for various applications.

Additive color mixing involves combining light colors (red, green, blue) to produce new colors.
Subtractive color mixing relates to pigments or dyes, using primary colors cyan, magenta, and yellow.

Rods are photoreceptors sensitive to low light levels without color detection, while cones are responsible for color sensitivity.
Color perception is a result of brain interpretation of signals from cones, influenced by environmental lighting conditions.

Optics studies the behavior of light through lenses, mirrors, and optical instruments, facilitating various technological uses.
Photography captures images through the interaction of light with photosensitive materials.
Communication systems utilize fiber optics to transmit data over long distances effectively using light.

Intensity refers to the brightness of light, correlating with the energy amount per unit area.
Polarization describes the orientation of light waves, which can occur naturally or be induced.
Luminosity assesses the total output of light emitted by a source, important in evaluating brightness levels.