1. The first person to discover the speed of light was Ole Rømer, which corresponds to option [C]. In 1676, Rømer, a Danish astronomer, made a significant breakthrough in understanding the speed of light through his observations of the eclipses of Jupiter’s moons, particularly Io. He noticed that the tRead more

    The first person to discover the speed of light was Ole Rømer, which corresponds to option [C]. In 1676, Rømer, a Danish astronomer, made a significant breakthrough in understanding the speed of light through his observations of the eclipses of Jupiter’s moons, particularly Io. He noticed that the timing of Io’s eclipses varied depending on the Earth’s position relative to Jupiter. When Earth was moving away from Jupiter, the eclipses appeared to occur later than expected, and when Earth was moving towards Jupiter, they appeared earlier. Rømer concluded that these discrepancies were due to the finite speed of light, taking time to travel the varying distances between Earth and Jupiter. By estimating these delays, Rømer calculated that light takes about 22 minutes to travel a distance equal to the diameter of Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Although his calculations were not precise by modern standards, Rømer’s work was groundbreaking and provided the first quantitative estimate of the speed of light, fundamentally advancing our understanding of light and its properties.

    See less
    • 4
  2. The phenomenon of polarization in light proves that light waves occur transverse, which corresponds to option [C]. Polarization is a property that only transverse waves exhibit, as it involves the orientation of the oscillations perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. When light is polarRead more

    The phenomenon of polarization in light proves that light waves occur transverse, which corresponds to option [C]. Polarization is a property that only transverse waves exhibit, as it involves the orientation of the oscillations perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. When light is polarized, its electric field vectors are aligned in a specific direction, filtering out waves vibrating in other directions. This can be achieved through various methods such as passing light through a polarizing filter, reflecting it off a surface at a specific angle (Brewster’s angle), or scattering it. The ability to polarize light confirms that its oscillations occur in planes perpendicular to the direction of travel, which is a characteristic of transverse waves. Longitudinal waves, such as sound waves, cannot be polarized because their oscillations occur in the same direction as the wave’s propagation. Thus, polarization is a definitive proof of the transverse nature of light waves, highlighting the distinct manner in which they propagate and interact with various media.

    See less
    • 3
  3. The phenomenon of light returning after hitting a smooth surface is called reflection of light, which corresponds to option [B]. Reflection occurs when light rays strike a smooth, shiny surface and bounce back into the medium from which they originated. This process follows the law of reflection, whRead more

    The phenomenon of light returning after hitting a smooth surface is called reflection of light, which corresponds to option [B]. Reflection occurs when light rays strike a smooth, shiny surface and bounce back into the medium from which they originated. This process follows the law of reflection, which states that the angle of incidence (the angle at which the incoming light ray hits the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle at which the light ray leaves the surface). Common examples of reflection include the way we see our image in a mirror or the way light glints off a calm body of water. Reflection is a fundamental concept in optics and is crucial for various applications, such as designing optical instruments, creating reflective surfaces in architecture, and even in everyday activities like using a periscope or applying makeup. The precise and predictable nature of light reflection allows it to be harnessed effectively in both scientific and practical contexts.

    See less
    • 3
  4. The nature of light radiation is similar to wave and particle both, which corresponds to option [C]. This duality is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, describing how light behaves both as a wave and as a particle. As a wave, light demonstrates phenomena such as interference and diffraction, whichRead more

    The nature of light radiation is similar to wave and particle both, which corresponds to option [C]. This duality is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, describing how light behaves both as a wave and as a particle. As a wave, light demonstrates phenomena such as interference and diffraction, which are best explained by its wave nature. For example, Thomas Young’s double-slit experiment showed that light creates an interference pattern, a characteristic behavior of waves. As a particle, light is composed of photons, discrete packets of energy. The photoelectric effect, explained by Albert Einstein, demonstrated that light could eject electrons from a material, a behavior that can only be explained if light acts as particles. This wave-particle duality reconciles the seemingly contradictory behaviors and provides a comprehensive understanding of light’s complex nature, illustrating how it can simultaneously exhibit properties of both waves and particles.

    See less
    • 3
  5. The theory that confirms the wave nature of light is the theory of interference, option [B]. This theory illustrates how light waves can superimpose to produce patterns of constructive and destructive interference. When two or more light waves overlap, their amplitudes combine, resulting in an interRead more

    The theory that confirms the wave nature of light is the theory of interference, option [B]. This theory illustrates how light waves can superimpose to produce patterns of constructive and destructive interference. When two or more light waves overlap, their amplitudes combine, resulting in an interference pattern. If the waves are in phase, they create constructive interference, leading to brighter regions. If they are out of phase, destructive interference occurs, resulting in darker regions. This behavior is a hallmark of wave phenomena and cannot be explained by particle theories alone. Experiments such as the double-slit experiment famously conducted by Thomas Young in 1801 provide clear evidence of this wave-like behavior of light. By observing the resulting interference patterns, scientists have conclusively demonstrated that light behaves as a wave, supporting the theory of interference as a fundamental explanation for the wave nature of light.

    See less
    • 3