GRADE 10 SCIENCE POINTERS
GRADE 10 SCIENCE POINTERS
LIGHT AND ITS REFLECTION
If an object does not emit its own light (which accounts for most
objects in the world), it must reflect light in order to be seen. The
walls in the room that you are in do not emit their own light; they
reflect the light from the ceiling "lights" overhead. Polished metal
surfaces reflect light much like the silver layer on the back side of
glass mirrors. A beam of light incident on the metal surface is
reflected.
Reflection involves two rays - an incoming or incident ray and an
outgoing or reflected ray. In Figure 1 we use a single line to illustrate
a light ray reflected from the surface. The law of reflection requires
that two rays are at identical angles but on opposite sides of the
normal which is an imaginary line (dashed in Fig. 1) at right angles to
the mirror located at the point where the rays meet. We show in Fig.
1 that the angles of incidence i and reflection i' are equal by joining
the two angles with an equal sign.
All reflected light obeys the relationship that the angle of incidence
equals the angle of reflection. Just as images are reflected from the
surface of a mirror, light reflected from a smooth water surface also
produced a clear image. We call the reflection from a smooth,
mirror-like surface specular (as shown in Figure 2a). When the
surface of water is wind-blown and irregular, the rays of light are
reflected in many directions. The law of reflection is still obeyed, but
the incident rays (Fig. 2b) strike different regions which are inclined
at different angles to each other. Consequently, the outgoing rays
are reflected at many different angles and the image is disrupted.
Reflection from such a rough surface is called diffuse reflection and
appears matte.
Figure. 2 Light reflection from a) smooth surface (specular reflection
) and b) rough surface (diffuse reflection). In both cases the angle of
incidence equals the angle of reflection at the point that the light ray
strikes the surface.
Light is also reflected when it is incident on a surface or interface
between two different materials such as the surface between air
and water, or glass and water. Each time a ray of light strikes a
boundary between two materials - air/glass or glass/water - some of
the light is reflected. The laws of reflection are obeyed at all
interfaces. The amount of reflected light at the interface depends on
the differences in refraction between the two adjoining materials.
,.;.
LIGHT AND ITS REFLECTION
If an object does not emit its own light (which accounts for most
objects in the world), it must reflect light in order to be seen. The
walls in the room that you are in do not emit their own light; they
reflect the light from the ceiling "lights" overhead. Polished metal
surfaces reflect light much like the silver layer on the back side of
glass mirrors. A beam of light incident on the metal surface is
reflected.
Reflection involves two rays - an incoming or incident ray and an
outgoing or reflected ray. In Figure 1 we use a single line to illustrate
a light ray reflected from the surface. The law of reflection requires
that two rays are at identical angles but on opposite sides of the
normal which is an imaginary line (dashed in Fig. 1) at right angles to
the mirror located at the point where the rays meet. We show in Fig.
1 that the angles of incidence i and reflection i' are equal by joining
the two angles with an equal sign.
All reflected light obeys the relationship that the angle of incidence
equals the angle of reflection. Just as images are reflected from the
surface of a mirror, light reflected from a smooth water surface also
produced a clear image. We call the reflection from a smooth,
mirror-like surface specular (as shown in Figure 2a). When the
surface of water is wind-blown and irregular, the rays of light are
reflected in many directions. The law of reflection is still obeyed, but
the incident rays (F ig. 2b) strike different regions which are inclined
at different angles to each other. Consequently, the outgoing rays
are reflected at many different angles and the image is disrupted.
Reflection from such a rough surface is called diffuse reflection and
appears matte.
Figure. 2 Light reflection from a) smooth surface (specular reflection
) and b) rough surface (diffuse reflection). In both cases the angle of
incidence equals the angle of reflection at the point that the light ray
strikes the surface.
Light is also reflected when it is incident on a surface or interface
between two different materials such as the surface between air
and water, or glass and water. Each time a ray of light strikes a
boundary between two materials - air/glass or glass/water - some of
the light is reflected. The laws of reflection are obeyed at all
interfaces. The amount of reflected light at the interface depends on
the differences in refraction between the two adjoining materials.
MAGNETS
A magnet is an object that exhibits a strong magnetic field and will
attract materials like iron to it. Magnets have two poles, called the
north (N) and south (S) poles. Two magnets will be attracted by their
opposite poles, and each will repel the like pole of the other magnet.
Magnetism has many uses in modern life.
The most popular legend accounting for the discovery of
magnets is that of an elderly Cretan shepherd named Magnes.
Legend has it that Magnes was herding his sheep in an area of
Northern Greece called Magnesia, about 4,000 years ago.
Suddenly both, the nails in his shoes and the metal tip of his
staff became firmly stuck to the large, black rock on which he
was standing.
Attraction - When two magnets or magnetic objects are close to
each other, there is a force that attracts the poles together.
Repulsion - When two magnetic objects have like poles facing each
other, the magnetic force pushes them apart.
MAGNETS
A magnet is an object that exhibits a strong magnetic field and will
attract materials like iron to it. Magnets have two poles, called the
north (N) and south (S) poles. Two magnets will be attracted by their
opposite poles, and each will repel the like pole of the other magnet.
Magnetism has many uses in modern life.
The most popular legend accounting for the discovery of
magnets is that of an elderly Cretan shepherd named Magnes.
Legend has it that Magnes was herding his sheep in an area of
Northern Greece called Magnesia, about 4,000 years ago.
Suddenly both, the nails in his shoes and the metal tip of his
staff became firmly stuck to the large, black rock on which he
was standing.
Attraction - When two magnets or magnetic objects are close to
each other, there is a force that attracts the poles together.
Repulsion - When two magnetic objects have like poles facing each
other, the magnetic force pushes them apart.