How Light Travels Through Objects - Lab Report Example

The topic is developed from the experiments undertaken to attest to the path followed by light in an open area and when it is destructed by objects and materials.

Introduction

Light travels in a straight path at 300, 000km per second or proximately 186, 000miles per second; however, the velocity of light is considered slower in glass and water (Katz, Small and Silberberg, 2012). Objects and devices prevent the travel of light in a straight line causing refraction commonly referred to as the bending of light (Minnaert, 2013).

The second experiment outlines the emission of light through a hole. The experiment tries to show how lights travel through objects.

Materials and Methods

In the first experiment a source of light, and an opening, for instance, a window is needed. In addition, the source of light should be placed at a higher place.

In the second experiment, materials such as cardboard tubes, tape, aluminum foil, a pin, a pinhole viewer, and a bright source of light are needed to complete the experiment.

Results

In the first experiment testing the movement of light in a straight line without any obstruction or not encountering any interface, the light path is considered extremely straight. Thus, it is deduced that whether light travel in water, air, glass, diamond, or any other object it moves in a straight line until it meets an object or a different medium. It is believed that it travels at a constant speed c referred to as the speed of light. This c is calculated to be 300,000 kilometers per second (Katz, Small, and Silberberg, 2012).

 It is realized that light is emitted or reflected by visible objects.  It is also noted that when objects reflect light, it moves in all directions. It is believed that the reflected light forms the image in our eyes (Fleming, Jäkel, and Maloney, 2011).

Discussion

The path of light is regarded as straight, and it is belied to travel at a constant speed in a uniform material until it encounters an object or another material. In the first experiment, it is shown that light travel straight until it meets another object where it becomes refracted making it bend (Katz, Small, and Silberberg, 2012).

In the second experiment, we make a pinhole viewer that is used to allow light from the source through small holes made in the aluminum foil. When viewed it is realized that there is a bright light on the tape that creates an image (Minnaert, 2013).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the experiment shows how light travels through objects. Besides, it shows how light travels in a straight line unless destructed by objects where it is emitted (Katz, Small, and Silberberg, 2012).

In the analysis of the path followed by light, it is considered reversible. It means that it is easy to reverse the path followed by light in objects and materials such as glass, water, and air. It is this reversibility characteristic of light that attests to the concept of the light path (Popa, Zigoneanu, and Cummer, 2011).