October 15, 2008

Almost everything we know about space we learned

from studying light. We gather light from space using
telescopes. We are most familiar with visible light [light
we can see]
· gamma rays - we cannot see. Usually released during
nuclear reactions.
· x-rays - cannot see. Used to take medical images
· ultraviolet - cannot see. Cause of suntans/sunburns
[some species of birds can see ultraviolet light]
· visible light - WE CAN SEE IT! [violet, blue, green,
yellow, orange, red]
· infrared - we cannot see. Emitted from objects warmer
than their surroundings. Some insects can see infrared
light.
· microwaves - cannot see them. Used to bombard food
to increase the molecular motion of the particles in
food. [will heat anything not just food]
· radio - we cannot see them. Used to send information
throught the air for radio, TV, GPS, wireless internet,
cell phones, etc.. DO NOT confuse radio waves with
sound.
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How do we
So what describe light?
is light?

Because
Light is light
a typeacts alot like
of energy thatacomes
wave in [as in oceans]
small we can
packets, called
usephotons.
wave adjectives to describe
But simply think light
of light as behaviour.
small envelopes of
energy. The larger the envelop, the greater the amount of
-frequency:
energy. refers to how often light moves up and down
per second [unit = Hertz]
-wavelength:
frequency - how refers tosomething
often the distance between
happens two parts
per second of
[Hertz]
thewavelength
wave that- is are
thedoing
lengththe same
of the wave thing
[meters]
-energy:
energy -refers to the,
the amount well, energy
of energy [Joules]of the light.
-photons: energy comes in packets of energy called
photons.

see next slides for application of these terms....

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The electromagnetic spectrum is the entire range

of types of light. See below:
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October 15, 2008