A

absorbed

soak up

atmosphere

the air around the earth

C

complement

to make complete

complementary colors

color that when used together enhance each other

concentrated

to make denser or stronger

E

electromagnetic spectrum

the range of all light waves visible and invisible

F

focused

a point at which light meets together

I

images

pictures or objects

indigo

another name for purple

interference

getting in the way

L

lasers

a single wave of light or beam of photons

lenses

an optical devise that focuses light

M

microscopes

a tool that magnifies objects for study

O

opaque

light will not pass through

optical illusions

an image that deceives reality

P

perceived

observed or saw

photons

particles of light

pinpoint

a tiny spot

primary colors

red, yellow and blue

prisms

triangular crystals that disperse light waves

R

reflected light

light which bounces off of a surface

refracted light

light which bends in such a way to distort the image

S

scatters

to distribute irregularly

secondary colors

orange, green and violet (purple)

surgery

operation

T

telescopes

a tool that makes objects far away appear to be closer

translucent

an object that allows light to pass through but scatters the light

transparent

an object that allows light to pass through without scattering the light

V

vacuum

a space filled with nothing, not even air

vertical

upright

visible light

light that can be seen

W

wavelengths

distance between one point on a wave and the same point on the following wave

white light

light that contains all the visible wavelengths

X

x-rays

short wavelengths that can penetrate solids