ABSTRACT
Light Waves If we accept the idea that light moves as a wave function, it is necessary to determine the nature of the waves and the relationship of light to other forms of radiation. Actually, light is a fractional part of a wide range of radiant energy that exists in the universe, all of which can be thought of as traveling in waves. These forms of energy travel at the tremendous speed of approximately 186,000 miles (3 108 meters) per second. They differ only in wavelength and frequency of vibration. These waves have been shown to vibrate at right angles to their path of travel. The distance from the crest of one wave to the crest of the next is termed the wavelength represented by the Greek letter lambda (λ). Figure 1-1 illustrates this concept. The number of waves passing a given point in a
second is called the frequency of vibration; the symbol f is used to specify it. The wavelength multiplied by the frequency of vibration equals the speed or velocity (symbol v) of the radiation. Thus, λ f v.
