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Nature of Light

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Estimated time: 6 minutes
  • Dual Nature of Light
  • Speed of Light
  • Categories of Light
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Key Points: Nature of Light

  • Light consists of energy-carrying photons guided by the rules of electromagnetic (EM) waves.
  • Commonly observed phenomena of light are broadly classified into three categories: Ray optics, Wave optics, and Particle nature of light.
  • Light thus exhibits a dual nature — it behaves both as a wave (wave optics) and as a particle (photon/particle nature), depending on the phenomenon observed.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Definition: Ray Optics

The branch of optics that is based on rectilinear propagation of light and deals with mirrors, lenses, reflection, refraction, etc. is called ray optics.

Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Definition: Wave Optics

The branch of optics that considers light as a wave which can bend around objects, diffract and interfere, etc. is called wave optics.

Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Definition: Electromagnetic Wave (Maxwell)

Coupled time-varying electric and magnetic fields that propagate in space are called electromagnetic waves.

Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Definition: Polarisation

The phenomenon that is based on the fact that light waves are transverse electromagnetic waves is called polarisation.

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