1. Unit 4: Properties of Matter and the Analysis of Glass
4-2 Theory of Light
Unit 4: Properties of Matter and
the Analysis of Glass

2. Dispersion
Dispersion is the process of separating light into component colors.

3. Prism
Each color of light corresponds to a different range of frequencies or wavelengths of light.

4. Light wavelength
Light rays of one color bend to a different degree of rays of all other colors.

6. Refraction
Refraction is the bending of light waves because they change in velocity.

7. Spectra
Continuous Spectrum
Forensic scientists have learned to characterize different chemical substances by the type and quantity of light they absorb.

8. Radiation
As long as electromagnetic radiation is moving through space, its behavior can be described as that of a continuous wave.

9. Absorption
Once radiation is absorbed by a substance, the model of light as a stream of discrete particles must be invoked to describe the behavior.

10. Spectrophotometer