By observing the characteristics of light and other waves, one can understand that light exhibits the properties of other waves. These include
- Reflection
- just like all other waves light is bounced off from surfaces
- just like all other waves light is bounced off from surfaces
- Refraction
- light changes direction as it passes from one material to the other
- light changes direction as it passes from one material to the other
- Diffraction
- when light moves through various media of different index of refraction diffraction occurs and it is an interference pattern which occurs in all waves including light.
- when light moves through various media of different index of refraction diffraction occurs and it is an interference pattern which occurs in all waves including light.
These characteristics of light will enable us to categorize it into a wave.