The Nature of Light Quiz

Light and Media

• The speed of light in a vacuum is a fundamental constant of the universe.
• Danish scientist Ole Rømer was the first to measure the speed of light in 1676.

Refraction

• Refraction is the phenomenon where light waves change speed and direction as they pass from one medium to another.
• The phenomenon where light waves bend as they pass from one medium to another is also known as refraction.

Light Speed in Media

• Light travels fastest in a vacuum.
• The speed of light is affected by the refractive index of a medium.

Refractive Index

• The refractive index of a material determines how much light is refracted when it enters the material.

Diffraction

• Diffraction is the term for the bending of light waves around obstacles in their path.

Absorption

• The property of a material that determines how much light is absorbed by the material is its absorbance.

Light Speed in Media (continued)

• When light enters a medium with a higher refractive index, its speed decreases.

Test your knowledge about the nature of light with these multiple-choice questions. Explore topics such as the speed of light in a vacuum, the scientist who first measured it, and the phenomenon of light waves changing speed and direction when passing through different mediums.