Ray

A light ray in a diagram is used to show how light moves and changes when it passes through space and different materials.

  • Geometric optics uses the concept that light is made up of rays to explain how it behaves as it encounters different materials and media.
  • Imagine a flashlight beam cutting through the night. A light ray in a diagram is a simplified version of that beam, helping us visualize how light travels and changes when it interacts with different materials.
  • Light rays are not tangible, they are a theoretical idea used to create a simplified explanation of light.
  • More precise descriptions of light’s characteristics use terms like photons or waves.
  • A light ray is a graphical depiction of a slender light beam moving through either a vacuum or a medium.
  • The closest equivalent to a light ray in real life is a narrow, concentrated light beam generated by a laser.
  • Ray diagrams use straight lines and arrows to demonstrate how light travels through space and transparent materials.
Related diagrams

Each diagram below can be viewed on its own page with a full explanation.

References
  • A light ray in a diagram is used to show how light moves and changes when it passes through space and different materials.
  • Geometric optics uses the concept that light is made up of rays to explain how it behaves as it encounters different materials and media.
  • Imagine a flashlight beam cutting through the night. A light ray in a diagram is a simplified version of that beam, helping us visualize how light travels and changes when it interacts with different materials.
  • Light rays are not tangible, they are a theoretical idea used to create a simplified explanation of light.
  • More precise descriptions of light’s characteristics use terms like photons or waves.
  • A light ray is a graphical depiction of a slender light beam moving through either a vacuum or a medium.
  • The closest equivalent to a light ray in real life is a narrow, concentrated light beam generated by a laser.