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LIGHT AND COLOR Light is a form of energy that can travel freely through space. The energy of light is called radiant energy. There are many kinds of radiant energy, including infrared rays, radio waves, ultraviolet rays, and X rays. We can see only a tiny part of all the different kinds of radiant energy. This part is called visible light or simply light. When light hits a barrier it can behave in many different ways such as reflection, refraction, and absorption. When a ray of light reaches a surface between two types of materials, such as air and glass, several things can happen. Some of the light may reflect from the surface, while some may pass through the surface. The light that enters the second material may refract (change its direction). In addition, molecules on the surface or within the second material may absorb some light. A transparent material lets light rays pass through it without mixing them up. You can see through such material. A translucent material also allows rays to pass through it, but it mixes them up so that you cannot see clearly through the material. An opaque material blocks all light. The reflected ray makes the same angle to the normal as the incoming ray, but on the other side of the normal.
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