Radience

Light

Science

concave lens

a lens with a center thinner than its edges
concave lens Simple Definition

concave mirror

a mirror with a surface that curves inward
concave mirror Simple Definition

cone cells

the retina cells that work in bright light, and help us see color
cone cells Simple Definition

convex lens

a lens with a center thicker than its edges
convex lens Simple Definition

convex mirror

a mirror with a surface that curves outward
convex mirror Simple Definition

diffuse reflection

reflection of light at many angles by a rough surface
diffuse reflection Simple Definition

energy absorption

the transfer of energy from a wave to an object, like sound energy when it hits a wall
energy absorption Simple Definition

fluorescent light

visible light produced when phosphor is hit by ultraviolet light
fluorescent light Simple Definition

focal point

the point at which light rays converge after passing through a lens
focal point Simple Definition

hologram

a three-dimensional photograph created using lasers
hologram Simple Definition

incandescent light

light produced when a metal is heated until it glows, it was used in old light bulbs
incandescent light Simple Definition

laser

a device that produces a narrow light beam of a single color and frequency
laser Simple Definition

law of reflection

states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
law of reflection Simple Definition

lens

a transparent object with at least one curved surface, light bends when passing through it
lens Simple Definition

light

electromagnetic energy that travels in waves, not all light is in the visible spectrum
light Simple Definition

microscope

an instrument that uses lenses to magnify small objects
microscope Simple Definition

mirage

the image of a distant object created when refracted light passes through air layers of different densities
mirage Simple Definition

opaque

a material that does not let any light pass through
opaque Simple Definition

pigment

a colored chemical compound that absorbs some colors of light and reflects others
pigment Simple Definition

plane mirror

a flat mirror that produces upright images of objects
plane mirror Simple Definition

pupil

the opening at the center of the iris, through which light enters the eye
pupil Simple Definition

reflecting telescope

a telescope that uses concave mirrors to reflect and focus light from distant objects
reflecting telescope Simple Definition

refracting telescope

a telescope that uses convex lenses to focus light from distant objects
refracting telescope Simple Definition

regular reflection

the reflection that occurs when parallel light rays hit a smooth surface and every ray is reflected at the same angle
regular reflection Simple Definition

retina

the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, it contains rods and cones
retina Simple Definition

rod

a receptor cell in the retina that works in dim light, but cannot detect color
rod Simple Definition

total internal reflection

occurs when light hits the boundary between two materials but is reflected back
total internal reflection Simple Definition

translucent

allows some light to pass through but scatters it
translucent Simple Definition

transmission

the passage of light through a material
transmission Simple Definition

transparent

allows light to pass through
transparent Simple Definition

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