radiation reflections refractions spectrum waves source glossary


Light is given out by luminous sources. It travels in straight lines. When it hits an object, some light is reflected.

When light rays pass through transparent materials like glass, they can be bent. This is called refraction.

Light is made of rays of different colours. They can be separated by a prism to make a spectrum. Light is part of a much bigger spectrum, the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of many different types of radiation.

All of this radiation travels as waves which carry energy from place to place. The waves all have a similar pattern. described by its wavelength and frequency.



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