A Complete Review of light and It’s Properties

Looking around us daily we have the need to see things and have things made which light offers us and it is one of the natural gifts we have got. Light comes to us from different sources and we enjoy the benefits therein. This comprehensive guide is to give a good review of what light and its details are all about. This piece will furnish you with the best information you need to know about light.

Read: All You Should Know About Electricity

Definition

Light is defined as electromagnetic radiation within the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be seen or perceived by the human eye.  This is the form of energy that is provided by luminous objects.

Light is about having wavelengths in the range of 400-700 nanometers between the ultraviolet and the infrared. Light can also pass through transparent materials like water, glass, air, and clear plastic.

How is Light Created or Generate?

Light is created and generate via fusion reactions. This is why some stars are painfully bright. This happens when atoms of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and helium collide with one another at a very high speed during the process of fusion, then a great amount of energy will be created.

Then the left over will be emitted as other forms of electromagnetic radiation which includes infrared, gamma rays, UV and x-rays) so the product of these fusions is light which logically carries energy.

Types

There are basically two types of light which are Luminescence and incandescence

Incandescence

This involves the vibration of entire atoms. Incandescence light is released when it comes from a heated solid. The temperature of the material depends on the production in different energies and colors. Incandescent is the basic type of light in includes electric bulbs, sun, and fires. Incandescent electric bulbs emit approximately 90% of energies infrared while the remainder is visible light.

Luminescence

Luminescence is about only electrons, it happens at lower temperatures compared to incandescent light. Luminescence is light from different sources that will take place at a low temperatures or normal temperatures. Luminescence light is produced when an electrons release some of its energy as electromagnetic radiation. E.g. of Luminescence light are fluorescence light and Neon lights.

Uses

The following are the uses of light:

• Light helps the plant to grow and make food
• It is used in space stations and power satellites
• It enables visibility for everyone
• The energy from the sun which is light can be used on solar panels for lightning
• It can be used for different domestic use since it is cost-effective and eco-friendly

Sources

There are different sources of Light. Below are 5 sources of light:

• The sun
• The moon
• Light emitting diode (LED)
• Tube light
• Electric bulb

Properties

The following below are the properties of light

• Dispersion of light
• Reflection of light
• Diffraction of light
• Refraction of light
• Polarization of light
• Scattering of light
• Interference of light

Important

Light have different important

Light is important for vision and visibility:  through the light, the eyes can receive the image of the objects and information is then send to the brain and from this visual information the brain can comprehend the objects.

It great for production of food:  the light that falls on greenish surfaces and leaves of plants are trapped. This trapped energy is transforms into form of food via a process known as photosynthesis. The light energy here is used to synthesize carbohydrates.

Light is great for color segregation: light reflection falls on to the eyeball and then passes the impression to brain making it colorful. So it is the ability by which the object absorbs some spectra of light and reflecting the remaining makes it look colorful. It would have been difficult to see light without the reflection of light even with a functional eye.

For Sterilization: the ultraviolet component of light is a good sterilizing agent like the popular UV lamps. The UV rays kill the microbes in the air keeping the area sterile.

It is good body clock maintenance:  light from the sun (sunlight) maintains circadian rhythm or body clock. Light everyday helps to keep both animals and plants clock ticking. There’s a clock in both the plants and animals active especially during the day and relaxed at night. The clock is controlled by light.

Characteristics

In search of what are the characteristics of light, see it below:

• It moves in straight line called rectilinear propagation of light
• It is also seen as an electromagnetic wave
• Light is a stream of corpuscles by Newton
• Light bounces back after hitting a polished surface
• It can’t be passed by opaque
• It can be partially passed by translucent
• It can totally passed by transparent

 Different Between Light and Light Energy

Light energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation while light is more about photons which are created when an object’s atoms heat up. Light travels in waves and remains the most form of energy that is visible to the human eyes.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Light

The Pros of light are:

• It helps in the producing energy savings which enable homeowners use less heat
• There is a need to reduce artificial light with natural light
• Natural light from research helps people to be more productive and live healthier
• It helps humans see things around them and the beauty of nature is enjoyed
• Life on earth is sustained via the process of photosynthesis
• Natural light helps in the regulating of some disorders which include the seasonal affective disorder
• It can be used to make a computer, Television and cell phone

The cons of light are:

• Too much exposure can lead to eye damage or blindness
• It really impossible to store energy in the form of light
• Light can easily block even with wood
• It has a disadvantage that can easily be converted to heat which will cause it to lose energy
• Under some cloudy weather, current can stay away for a long while.
• It can damage or hurt the retina of the eyes

Conclusion

Here you have it a complete summary on all you needed to know about light. We need light in all spheres of life and as such, information about it needed to be exposed. If there’s any question regarding this topic, please be free to use the comment box below.