Light

​Light energy is the energy of traveling waves that makes things visible to the eye.

​

​

​Light energy allows us to see things up close, and to see things in different colors.

​Light waves move in a straight line and can travel through empty space (vacuum).

​

​Light will continue to move in a straight line unless an opaque object gets in the way. Then a shadow is formed.

​

​Light can also be reflected and refracted.

​Reflection happens when light bounces off an object and moves in another direction.

​

​The light will still travel in a straight line, but just in a different direction.

Refraction happens when light gets bent in transparent materials such as water, air, glass, or a prism.

​Refraction can cause:

• ​Objects to look bent like in water.

• ​Objects to look bigger like through a lens.

• ​A rainbow to appear when light gets broken into its 7 colors.

​Transparent- allows light to pass through it so objects can be seen clearly.

​

​Translucent- allows some light to pass but objects don't have a detailed shape.

​

​Opaque- no light passes through it.