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Properties of
Light
Following are the properties of light that shows the behavior of light as a
wave:
Reflection - Light is reflected off the surface like mirror such that angle of
incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
Refraction - Refraction is the bending of light as it passes between material of
different optical density
Dispersion - Light is composed of waves of different wavelengths that correspond
to different colors of lights. When light wave passes through a material, these
different wavelengths causes refraction by different amounts according to the
wavelengths and which gives rise to different colors seen through prism or for
rainbow.
Diffraction - This is the bending of light waves around obstacles in its path.
ex. When a light wave comes against a barrier with a small opening, it acts as a
single point source from where light emerges in all direction.
Interference - When two light waves coincide, it can create either constructive
or destructive interference based on how crest & trough of each wave coincide
with other.
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