The Concept of Light

Light can carry both energy and information. It both is the way the sun delivers energy to the world, making life possible, and it is a very important way that we learn about the world, through our sense of sight.

Sources of Light

The sun is the natural source of light. On the other hand, torch, candle, kerosene lamp, electric bulb, Fluorescent lamp, etc. are some common examples of artificial sources of light, bodies which give out light are called Luminous bodies .

Difference between Luminous and Non-luminous Bodies

Non-luminous bodies are bodies which do not produce light, non-luminous bodies are seen because they reflect light from luminous bodies in such a way that our eyes receive light from travel in a straight line. Due to transmission of light, we are able to see.

Propagation and Transmission of Light

A straight line showing a path of light is called a ray which is the direction of the path taken by light. Rays of light are represented in diagrams by full straight line with arrow marking the direction in which the light is travelling

A beam is a stream of light rays, and it is usually represented by a number of rays. Rays of light can converge (converging rays) or they can diverge (diverging rays).




Transparent, Translucent and Opaque Materials

Objects can be grouped according to transmission of light through them, i.e.. The degree passage of light as light rays falls on their surface.


Opaque bodies
These are bodies which do not allow light to pass through them, i.e.. Stones, wood, concrete walls and bodies.


Translucent bodies
These are bodies which allow small amount of light falling on them to pass through e.g oiled paper, some plastic materials and tinted glass.


Transparent bodies
These are bodies which allow all light to pass through them, e.g. glass, pure water and air. The transmission of light through different bodies can be investigated by performing other experiment.


Reflection of Light

Reflections are obtained from hard and highly polished surfaces such as mirrors and sheets of glass than from rougher surfaces, when light falls on the surface at an inclined plane angle, it is sent back into the air. This is also the case when light falls on all highly polished metals. If light falls on a polished surface at an angle 900, it is sent back into the air on the same path.


Difference between Regular and Irregular Reflection of Light

Surface can be classified into two types:

1. Highly polished surfaces, examples are mirror, polished cooking utensil and silvered iron sheets.

2. Rough surface, examples are unpolished wooden table, sheet of paper and cobblestone road.


Application of the Laws of Reflection of Light

Reflection  is  guided  by  some  natural  laws  called  “Laws  of  reflection” 

The  Laws  of  reflection state that:
1. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal at the point of incidence all lies in the same plane.
2. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.


Image Formed by a Plane Mirror

A clear image is recognized as a result of reflection of the beam striking the highly polished surfaces. This is called regular reflection.



If mirrors were replaced by a piece of sheet of paper, there would be no image to be seen even as a result of diffuse or irregular reflection, this is shown below.


Terms used in reflection
When light rays strike a surface (e.g. a mirror) there are two rays of importance, namely Incident and Reflected rays, see the figure above :

Reflection of light rays.

 MO is a ray of light falling on a mirror; it is called the incident ray.
 OP is a ray of light leaving the mirror after reflection; it is called the reflected ray. 

Line NO is perpendicular to the mirror , it is called the normal. 

ANGLE MON is called the angle of incidence. 

(i) this is the angle between the incident ray and the normal , angle NOP is called the angle of reflection 

(t) this is the angle between reflected ray and the normal.