Light Energy

Photons, which are little packets of energy, are produced by light. When the atoms of an object are heated, photons are produced as a byproduct of the heating process. The heat causes the electrons to get excited. This energy is released in the form of a photon, and the number of photons released increases as the temperature of the material rises.

Light energy flows in the form of a wave as it makes its way across the universe. However, no matter is required for the transport of light energy. As a result, light energy may travel into space where there is no air, whereas sound waves cannot do so since they must pass through solids, liquids, or gas to get there. Light energy is extremely rapid and moves faster than any other type of energy.

There is a significant amount of electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun. Humans are only able to perceive a limited portion of this energy, which is referred to as ‘visible light.’ The way solar energy flows is referred to as the “wave” pattern. Measurement of the wavelength and the distance between consecutive wave positions allow scientists to estimate the wave energy (from crest to crest and trough to trough).

Types Of Light

There are many different sorts of light energy. They are as follows:

Light that can be seen with the naked eye is known as visible light. It’s a type of electromagnetic energy in its most basic form. The sun is the primary source of visible light. It can also be emitted by lanterns, flashlights, light bulbs, and other similar devices.

A type of electromagnetic energy that causes heat is infrared light, which is another type of electromagnetic energy. Infrared light is used by television remote controls. They make their way from the controller to the television.

X-rays – These are brief light waves that are employed by doctors to capture photographs of the inside of our bodies and to detect fractures in our skeletal structures. Additionally, dentists use x-rays to assess the amount to which the teeth have deteriorated over time.

Properties Of Light

The rate at which the source releases light energy is referred to as the intensity of light. It can also be described as brightness, which is measured in terms of the rate at which light generates in a surface unit or the amount of energy per unit time per unit area that is generated.

Frequency: The frequency of light is defined as the number of crests that pass past a specific place in a second, and it is measured in hertz.

Wavelength: The distance between two successive crests or troughs in the spectrum of light is known as the wavelength of light. Light waves travel at the same pace through the vacuum as they do in matter. Because the relationship between wavelength and frequency is reciprocal, the shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency.

In polarisation, the process by which unpolarized light converts into polarised light is called photon splitting. Light waves vibrate in multiple planes at the same time. As a result, they are referred to as unpolarized light.

A phase is a precise point in the time frame of a cyclic waveform’s frequency response. When the waves are in phase with one another, the intensity of light energy increases.

Light Energy Measurement Units

Light energy can be measured in a variety of different units.

When calculating the wavelength of light, the units of angstrom and nanometer are useful.

The frequency of light energy is calculated using Hertz units. In addition, the unit of measure for light energy is the electron volt (eV).

Uses of Light Energy

Food formation

Light makes it possible for plants to produce the food that we consume. Photosynthesis is aided by the presence of light in plants. The plants use the light they receive to prepare food for themselves as well as for other living organisms.

Vitamin D is well-known to be good for our health. As a result, the Sun is the most reliable source of this nutrient for obtaining it for free in nature.

In Spectroscopy

However, all of this is made possible by the presence of light, which is used for both quantitative and qualitative investigation of diverse chemicals. Spectroscopy is also a broad term that encompasses a variety of techniques that differ depending on the wavelength of light employed in each.

For Sterilisation

The UV component of light is a powerful sterilising agent that may be used in many applications. You may have observed the use of ultraviolet (UV) lamps in supermarkets and hospitals; these ultraviolet (UV) lamps are the most effective sterilisers available.

Scavenging

The sun helps to keep our environment clean. Weeds, algae, and other bacteria are prevented from growing in the presence of sunlight, which helps to maintain the environment clean and tidy.

Because of the sun’s rays, dead bodies and other waste material become dry and lose their mass, causing them to degrade (become smaller in amount) quickly.

Conclusion

Light energy is used to assist humans in seeing — whether it comes from natural sources such as the Sun or fire, or from manufactured sources such as candles or light bulbs. Light energy is also utilised by plants, which catch the light energy emitted by the Sun and use it to make the food that they need to survive. In order for all living organisms to generate food, they must be exposed to light. Every organism, with the exception of a few chemotrophic species such as bacteria, is reliant on light for its energy and food sources. We receive sunlight from the sun, but it is absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere, which in turn converts it to heat energy. Because light is the sole source from which man can calculate perfectly and accurately when the distance and speed cannot be computed in any other way, it is used to determine speed and distance when other methods are ineffective. Calculations are dependent on the speed of light.