Types of beam of light

Types of beam of light

Generally light is not a single ray, but a bundle of rays which are called as a beam of light.

A light beam can be a bundle of parallel rays, convergent rays or divergent rays. Let us look at the light coming from the Sun. The rays of sunlight are parallel. Often the headlight of car gives parallel rays. However look at the rays of light coming out of a candle. Light rays go in all directions, from the candle fire. These rays are divergent. Light rays from a flash light is also divergent. Using lenses we can converge light rays. Using a lens, you can focus sunlight at a point. That is what we are making the light rays to converge.

Speed of light:

When lighting a bulb in a dark room, light spreads the whole room quickly. This is because the light travels very fast. Light travels three lakh kilometers per second in air or vacuum. In theory , nothing can travel faster than light

Interaction of light with matter

Take a piece of clear glass, a paper and a metal sheet. Shine a light from one side of each object and see if the light penetrate on the other side. Readily, we can see light enters and comes out of the other end of clear glass, whereas the light is bit dim through a paper. Light does not pass through metal sheet. Depending upon permeability, materials can be classified into three categories.

Transparent Material:

Materials that allow light to pass through completely are known as transparent material.

Example: Eye glasses, clear drinking glass, clear water, face glasses used in buses.

Translucent Material:

Objects that allow light to pass through partially are called translucent material. For example, we cannot see the image of someone who stands behind a rough window glass, because it allows only a part of light from the person.

Opaque Material:

Materials that are not able to allow light to pass through, are called opaque material. Example: Wall, thick card board, stone, etc.

ACTIVITY 4

Let’s categorize transparent material, translucent material and opaque material among the given materials

(Clear plastic ruler, cellophane paper , some water in a glass jar, tissue paper, drinking glass, beaker, tap water, kerosene, coconut oil, note paper, card board, milk, diluted milk, aluminum foil, thick colored plastic lid, rough glass piece, measuring glass with water, wooden piece)

Place all the materials given above in the dark room. Focus a torch light on one side of each material. Inspect the light coming out at the other side of each material and then classify the materials in the table.