Select a simulation to explore a property of light. Click and drag to rotate, and use your mouse wheel to zoom.
Light Travels as a Wave
Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that travels in waves. Like waves on water, light waves have crests (peaks) and troughs. The distance between two crests is called the wavelength. This simulation shows a simplified light wave moving through space.
Wavelength Determines Color
The color of light we perceive depends on its wavelength. Red light has the longest wavelength, and violet light has the shortest. Use the slider below to change the wavelength and see how the color of the wave changes across the visible spectrum.
Refraction and Dispersion
When light passes from one medium to another (like from air into glass), it bends. This is called refraction. Because different wavelengths (colors) of light bend by slightly different amounts, white light can be split into its constituent colors, a phenomenon known as dispersion. A prism is a perfect tool to demonstrate this.