The Direction Which Wave Is Moving |
|
|
|
|
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 APPLICATION OF PHYSICS & OPTICS TO GRAFT DISSECTION
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PAGE 10 |
||||
|
|
||||
| In this paper, I will rely heavily on the use of rays to represent the direction which a wave is moving. While we know that light is a wave (and not a stream of particles), I still use a line segment with and an arrowhead (i.e., a ray) to depict the refraction of light. The ray is constructed in a direction perpendicular to the wavefronts of the light wave; this accurately depicts the light wave's direction. The idea that a light wave can be represented by a ray is known as the ray model of light.
Another way to categorize waves is on the basis of the ability (or nonability) to transmit energy through a vacuum (i.e., empty space). Categorizing waves on this basis leads to two notable categories: electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves. An electromagnetic wave is a wave which is capable of transmitting its energy through a vacuum (i.e., empty space). Electromagnetic waves are produced by the vibration of electrons within atoms on the Sun's surface. These waves subsequently travel through the vacuum of outer space, subsequently reaching Earth. Were it not for the ability of electromagnetic waves to travel to Earth, there would undoubtedly be no life on Earth. All light waves are examples of electromagnetic waves. While the basic properties and behaviors of light are discussed, the detailed nature of an electromagnetic wave is quite complicated and beyond the scope of this paper. This is outlined in the diagram below:
|
||||
| Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | ||||
| Back To Top | ||||
| Next Page- Transparency | ||||
