Amplitude and Intensity

[VindyMurthy]

What is the difference between light and intensity? Or are they the same thing?

[Alesha Vaughn 1E]

Light is also known as visible radiation and it is the electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. Intensity is the brightness of that electromagnetic radiation. So intensity is a property of light.

[Ashley Martinez 1G]

To my understanding, light is a form of electromagnetic radiation and intensity (i.e brightness) is determined by the square of the amplitude within the wave of electromagnetic radiation. The beginning of section 1.2 in the textbook breaks it down pretty well if you're interested!

[MariahClark 2F]

Light and intensity are not the same, although light can have varying intensities. Light consists of photons while intensity is simply a measurement. When measuring the intensity of light, it is specifically the amount of photons being emitted per unit of time. To use it in a situation is that even if you increase the intensity of light, you still cannot eject an electron if the photon doesn't have the the amount of energy to surpass the threshold.

[Megan Phan 1K]

Intensity is the measurable amount of a property, such as brightness. While light is a range of electromagnetic radiation detectable by the human eye. Intensity can be a property of light, and more information can be found in 1.2 of the textbook.

[vivianndo_1L]

When referring to light in the aspect of the wave-particle duality, the intensity of the light and its properties vary according to which model you're looking at.

In the wave model, the intensity of the radiation is proportional to the square amplitude of the wave.
In the particle model, the intensity of the radiation is proportional to the number of photons present at each instant.

[Cindy Nguyen 1L]

The brighter the light is, the more intense it is. In regards to the amplitude, then there is a larger amplitude.

Let's say I shine a flashlight at you:

When the waves of light are in sync with each other, they create a constructive diffraction pattern. This means the waves overlap together, and therefore it makes a wave with a larger amplitude. If I change the brightness of the flashlight to a brighter setting, it would mean there are more photons/waves of light. So when the light is brighter, it means more waves are overlapping, causing a larger amplitude.