What is the ray model of light?

What is the ray model of light?

• A. Light travels in a straight line.
• B. Light travels in waves.
• C. Light bounces randomly.
• D. Light speeds up and slows down.

Answer: (A)

Light is represented as rays that travel in straight lines through a uniform medium. This simple path model explains shadows and how light moves from a source toward surfaces. When a ray hits a boundary, it can reflect off the surface or refract into a new medium, changing direction in a predictable way. The ray model focuses on the direction of travel and straight-line paths between interactions, rather than the wave nature of light or changes in speed inside materials. That’s why light traveling in a straight line best describes this model.

Light is represented as rays that travel in straight lines through a uniform medium. This simple path model explains shadows and how light moves from a source toward surfaces. When a ray hits a boundary, it can reflect off the surface or refract into a new medium, changing direction in a predictable way. The ray model focuses on the direction of travel and straight-line paths between interactions, rather than the wave nature of light or changes in speed inside materials. That’s why light traveling in a straight line best describes this model.