A ray diagram is a representation of the possible paths light can take to get from one place to another. A sharp real image (an image that can be displayed on a screen) is formed when all rays from one point on an object arrive at a unique point on the image.

Applications of Refraction of Light

• A lens uses refraction to form an image of an object for various purposes, such as magnification.
• Spectacles worn by people with defective vision use the principle of refraction.
• Refraction is used in peepholes of house doors, cameras, movie projectors and telescopes.

A ray of light or another form of radiant energy that is thrown back from a nonpermeable or nonabsorbing surface is called reflected ray. The ray of light that bounces back from the surface of reflection is called the reflected ray.

n. The point at which a light ray enters an optical system.

Usually ‘ray’ is a narrow beam of light, whereas ‘beam’ is a line of light that shines from a bright object, so the words (as nouns) are practically synonyms with differences in size.

Ray of light: The direction or path along which, light energy travels in a medium is called a ray of light. It is represented by a straight line with an arrow marked on it. Beam of light: A group of light rays is called a beam of light. A beam of light may be parallel, convergent or divergent.

A beam is a thin projection of particles or waves. A ray is a hypothetical stream of light. A beam has a finite width, and it can be observed physically. A ray is a concept, which cannot be observed physically, and the ray has a zero width.

The light traveling in any one direction in a straight line is called a ray of light. A group of light rays given out from a source is called a beam of light.

Einstein called these energy packets photons, and these are now recognised as a fundamental particle. Visible light is carried by photons, and so are all the other kinds of electromagnetic radiation like X-rays, microwaves and radio waves. In other words, light is a particle.

A: You see the beam because the air has many dust particles in it and some of the light bounces off those particles heading various directions, including toward you. Although photons can bounce off each other, the process is extremely rare for visible photons in a vacuum or air.