Question

What are the 5 characteristics of light?

Answer 1

Hint: Characteristics of light is basically referred to as the information which can be used to describe light. We can list some characteristics of light by describing its speed, its nature, its behavior in different mediums, various phenomena it undergoes, its range along the electromagnetic spectrum. Hence from the above characteristic we will describe light.

Complete step-by-step solution:
1) One of the most important characteristics of light is that it travels the fastest in vacuum with the speed of $3\times {10}^{8}m{s}^{-1}$.
2) Light is basically referred to an electromagnetic radiation exhibiting wave nature as well; it can be considered as packets of energy called photons depicting particle nature. Hence we say that light exhibits a dual nature.
3) The speed of the light changes as it enters from one medium to another with variable optical density. The speed of light is minimum in optically denser mediums having large refractive indices.
4) Light undergoes various phenomena like reflection, refraction, interference polarization etc. All these phenomena can either be explained by wave nature or the particle nature of light.
5) When we say light, we basically refer to the visible light of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelength of visible light ranges from 400nm to 800 nm. Whereas the wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum ranges from ${10}^{-12}m$ to ${10}^{6}m$.

Note:It is to be noted that when light enters from one medium to another its wavelength changes but frequency remains the same. The main source of light on Earth is the sun. It has been ages since we have evolved from lighting our houses with fire to the development of electric lights.