UNIT 5
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UNIT 5

 

Text One   

 

«Light»

 

 

  

 

300,000 + x km/s

x = 0

or: x< 0

Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation.

It has a velocity of approximately 300,000 (three hundred thousand) kilometres per second.

The velocity of light is absolute. This means that no physical object can have a velocity greater than 300,000 km/s.

It follows that the velocity of light represents a limiting velocity. It represents a limiting velocity because no body can exceed it.

The velocity of light represents a limiting velocity in that no object can exceed it, i.e. have a velocity greater than the velocity of light.

Different wavelengths of light produce different sensations in the eye, which correspond to different colours.

 

According to the special theory of relativity, the velocity of light is absolute and represents a limiting velocity in that the velocity of no body can exceed it.

 

Exercise: True or false?

1. The velocity of light is a limiting velocity.

2. Light is composed of atoms.

3. Some objects can exceed the velocity of light.

4. No object can exceed the velocity of light.