Page 85 - Science Course 3 (Book 2)

Mo10-L5b: Interaction of Light Waves with Matter

Let’s Begin Key Concept

Interaction of Light Waves with Matter
The Interaction of Light and Matter
What can happen to light waves when they interact
with matter?
Like all waves, when light waves interact with matter
they can be transmitted, absorbed, or ref ected.

Transmission occurs when light waves travel
through a material.

Clear
Glass
80%

100%

Tinted
Glass
40%
Depending on how they interact with light, materi-
als can be classif ed as transparent, translucent, or
Absorption occurs when a material absorbs energy opaque.
from light waves that are traveling in the material
A material is A material is
transparent translucent
if it transmits if it transmits
Incident Transmitted light waves, and light waves, but A material is
Light Object Light
objects can be objects cannot opaque if light
seen clearly be seen clearly waves cannot
through the through the travel through
material. material. the material.

Absorbed Light

Ref ection occurs when light waves come in contact
with the surface of a material and bounce off.

All waves, including light waves, obey the law of
Absorbed ref ection.

According to the law of ref ection, the angle of
Ref ected Transmitted incidence always equals the angle of ref ection.

Angle of Angle of
Incidence Ref ection

Light Ray

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