Light energy exhibits certain behaviors depending on how it is transmitted, reflected, and refracted.

Transmission of Light

Look at the image below. Notice how the light from the flashlight travels in a straight line. If you beam the flashlight on an object, will the light reach it in a straight line too?

Light travels in a straight line. It is transmitted when nothing gets in the way of this line.

Sometimes an object may block the path of light. When this happens, the object forms a shadow, or a dark shape that is created on the areas surrounding the object. The size of a shadow depends on the object’s distance from the source of light.