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  1. Light | Definition, Properties, Physics, Characteristics, Types ...

    Nov 25, 2025 · Light is electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation occurs over an extremely wide range of wavelengths, from gamma rays …

  2. Quantum mechanics | Definition, Development, & Equations | Britannica

    Nov 14, 2025 · Quantum mechanics, science dealing with the behavior of matter and light on the atomic and subatomic scale. It attempts to describe and account for the properties of molecules and atoms …

  3. Laser | Definition, Acronym, Principle, Applications, & Types | Britannica

    Oct 13, 2025 · Laser, a device that stimulates atoms or molecules to emit light at particular wavelengths and amplifies that light, typically producing a very narrow beam of radiation. The emission generally …

  4. Lens | Meaning, Principles, Manufacture, & Facts | Britannica

    Oct 26, 2025 · Refraction of the rays of light reflected from or emitted by an object causes the rays to form a visual image of the object. This image may be either real —photographable or visible on a …

  5. Microscope | Types, Parts, History, Diagram, & Facts | Britannica

    Nov 28, 2025 · The most familiar type of microscope is the optical, or light, microscope, in which glass lenses are used to form the image. Optical microscopes can be simple, consisting of a single lens, or …

  6. Solar cell | Definition, Working Principle, & Development | Britannica

    Nov 17, 2025 · Light enters the device through an optical coating, or antireflection layer, that minimizes the loss of light by reflection; it effectively traps the light falling on the solar cell by promoting its …

  7. light - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help

    Introduction People and other animals can see because there is light. Light is a form of energy. The Sun is a very important source of light energy. Without the energy from the Sun, there would be no plants …

  8. Color | Definition, Perception, Types, & Facts | Britannica

    Dec 1, 2025 · Light is not the only type of electromagnetic radiation—it is, in fact, only a small segment of the total electromagnetic spectrum—but it is the one form the eye can perceive. Wavelengths of …

  9. Gothic architecture | Characteristics, Examples, & Facts | Britannica

    Nov 20, 2025 · The rib vault, flying buttress, and pointed (Gothic) arch were used as solutions to the problem of building a very tall structure while preserving as much natural light as possible.

  10. X-ray | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica

    Nov 28, 2025 · As with other forms of electromagnetic radiation, X-rays can be described as coupled waves of electric and magnetic fields traveling at the speed of light (about 300,000 km, or 186,000 …