The Wave Nature of Light

Front

Diffraction Noun

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[dih-frak-shun]

Back

Diffraction

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The bending of a wave, such as light, as it passes the edge of an object or through an aperture.

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Example: This diagram shows that when white light passes through a narrow opening called a grating, it bends and spreads out into the different colors of the rainbow.

Front

Huygens' Principle Noun

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[hoy-genz prin-suh-pul]

Back

Huygens' Principle

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The principle that every point on a wavefront is a source of wavelets that spread out in the forward direction.

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Example: This diagram shows that each point on a wavefront (A-B) acts as a source for new circular wavelets, forming a new wavefront (C-D).

Front

Wavefront Noun

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[wayv-fruhnt]

Back

Wavefront

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An imaginary surface representing corresponding points of a wave that vibrate in unison and are in the same phase.

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Example: This diagram shows that a wavefront is an imaginary line connecting the same points, like the crests, on a series of adjacent propagating waves.

Front

Spectrum Noun

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[spek-trum]

Back

Spectrum

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The ordered arrangement of colors or wavelengths produced when light is dispersed, such as by a prism.

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Example: This diagram shows that when white light, like sunlight, passes through a prism, it separates into a range of colors called a spectrum.

Front

Wavelength Noun

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[wayv-length]

Back

Wavelength

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The spatial period of a periodic wave, representing the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave and labels the wavelength as the distance from one peak to the next, a key property of light.

Front

Frequency Noun

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[free-kwen-see]

Back

Frequency

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The number of complete wave cycles or oscillations that pass a specific point per unit of time.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave with a low frequency, meaning fewer waves pass a point over a given amount of time ('t').

Front

Additive Color Process Noun

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[ad-i-tiv kuhl-er pros-es]

Back

Additive Color Process

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The process of creating colors by mixing the primary colors of light, typically red, green, and blue.

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Example: This diagram shows that when the primary colors of light (red, green, and blue) are added together, they create secondary colors and, ultimately, white light.

Front

Primary Colors of Light Noun

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[prahy-mer-ee kuhl-erz ov light]

Back

Primary Colors of Light

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Red, green, and blue light, which can be combined in various proportions to produce a full spectrum of colors.

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Example: Three light sources project the primary colors of light (red, green, and blue), which overlap to create secondary colors and combine to form white light.

Front

Secondary Colors of Light Noun

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[sek-un-der-ee kuhl-erz ov light]

Back

Secondary Colors of Light

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Yellow, cyan, and magenta, each formed by mixing two of the three primary colors of light.

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Example: This diagram shows that when the primary colors of light (red, green, and blue) are mixed, they create the secondary colors: cyan, magenta, and yellow.

Front

Complementary Colors Noun

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[kom-pluh-men-tree kuhl-erz]

Back

Complementary Colors

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A pair of colors of light that, when combined in the correct intensities, produce the perception of white light.

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Example: This color wheel shows that complementary colors, like magenta and green, are located directly opposite each other, which is key to understanding color mixing with light.