| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Absorption | the "soaking up" of wave energy, or transfer of energy from a photon of light to an absorbing atom or molecule. |
| Diffraction | the spreading of waves when they pass through a narrow opening. (separation of light into colors) |
| Dispersion | the seperation and spreading of waves of different wavelengths. |
| Emission | the "creation" of a wave; really the transfer of energy from a vibrating source to a wave. |
| Mirage | A "picture" in space that is the apparent source of light rays. |
| Rainbow | Dispersion of sunlight into all the colors within a narrow band of angles resulting from refraction and reflection and reflection in water droplets. |
| Reflection | the "bouncing" of a wave from the boundary between two media. |
| Refraction | The deflection, or bending of a wave caused by a change of its speed. |
| Spectrum | the characteristic set of colors emitted by particular material. |
| Total Internal Reflection | A phenomenon that occurs when light is within a medium where its speed is less than in the surrounding medium |
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