Light is a kind of electromagnetic radiation. It is made up of photons (energy packets) that are produced when material atoms heat up. Light travels in waves and is the only type of energy that can be seen with the human eye.
The sun generates a lot of electromagnetic radiation (solar energy). Only a small portion of this energy, referred to as “visible light,” is visible to humans. Waves can be used to describe and measure the way solar energy travels. The wavelength of a wave, or the distance between two consecutive, similar points in a series of waves, such as crest to crest or trough to trough, can be used to calculate its energy.
The sun emits many different types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. The electromagnetic spectrum is the collection of all possible radiation wavelengths. A different amount of energy is carried by each wavelength.
The wavelength range of each type of electromagnetic radiation is distinct.
X-rays and ultraviolet (UV) rays are two types of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. Higher-energy waves are harmful to living things; X-rays and UV rays, for example, can cause harm to humans.
Table of Contents
Light Energy Definition
Light energy is a type of kinetic energy that allows various types of light to be visible to human vision. Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by heated things such as lasers, bulbs, and sunshine.
The Properties of Light Energy
Light travels at high speeds, but it has a finite velocity. The speed of light in a vacuum is 186,282 miles per second (or nearly 300,000 kilometres per second), which is quite fast! When we start talking about the incredible distances in astronomy, the finite nature of light’s velocity becomes clear. Radio communication travelling at the speed of light, for example, takes about two and a half seconds to reach the moon and back. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year at the speed of 186,282 miles per second, about 6 trillion miles.
Visible light is only a small part of a much larger spectrum known as the electromagnetic spectrum. For our convenience, we divide the spectrum into sections and call them by their names, such as gamma-rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio. It’s important to remember, though, that they’re all just lights. Experiments in physics over the last century or so have shown that light has a dual nature. In many cases, it is more convenient to think of light as a “particle” phenomenon, with photons being discrete “packets” of energy.
Properties of Photon
A single photon, which is the smallest bit of light possible, carries the following properties:
| Wavelength | The wavelength is the spatial distance between the photon’s wave’s peaks. |
| Speed | The speed at which a photon travels across space is always 299,792, 458 metres per second. |
| Momentum | Momentum is a motional attribute that defines the capacity of light to collide with other things and cause them to move. |
| Kinetic Energy | Kinetic energy is the energy that light has as a result of its mobility. Because photons have no mass, their kinetic energy equals their total energy. According to General Relativity, the energy of light permits it to form a gravitational field. |
| Period | A period is defined as the time elapsed between two peaks of a photon’s wave at a fixed place. |
| Wavevector | The wavevector describes the photon’s propagation direction as well as the number of wave peaks in a unit length. |
| Frequency | The frequency of a wave is the number of times it achieves a peak in a unit of time at a particular point. The frequency of light has a strong influence on our perception of its color. |
Uses of Light Energy
- Plants use light energy to generate chemical energy during photosynthesis.
- In satellite and space technology, light energy is exploited as a source of power.
- In the telecommunications business, light energy (electromagnetic radiation) is utilized.
- A certain spectrum of light wavelengths offers the ideal amount of energy to drive the chemical processes in our retina that sustain vision.
Related Links
Work-Energy Theorem
Kinetic Energy Formula
Flaring of gases
Energy-The Ability to do Work
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Light energy definition?
Light energy is a kind of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. Photons are the particles that makeup light, and they are like small packets of energy. The Sun is the nearest star to Earth and emits light energy.
2. Hydro turbines?
Hydro turbines are devices used in hydroelectric power plants to transmit energy from flowing water to a rotating shaft, where it is converted into electricity. In response to the infusion of water into their blades, these turbines revolve or spin.
3. Can force be negative?
Yes, force may be negative since it is a vector quantity that is affected by magnitude and direction. The negative symbol just denotes the direction.
4. Can displacement be negative?
Yes, because displacement is a vector quantity that depends on magnitude and direction, it can be negative. The negative symbol just denotes the direction.
Check the full article here“can displacement be negative?”.
More Links
Gravitational Potential Energy (w=mgh)| Easy Examples
Body’s Preferred Source of Energy
Energy Stored in a Capacitor
Longitudinal Waves| Physics
Momentum Equation| Definition and Examples
Kinematic Viscosity of Water
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