1 / 15

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Electromagnetic Spectrum. The terms light , radiation , and electromagnetic wave can all be used to explain the same concept because they are All forms of electromagnetic radiation

basil-huffman
Download Presentation

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Electromagnetic Spectrum • The terms light, radiation, and electromagnetic wave can all be used to explain the same concept because they are All forms of electromagnetic radiation • By using tools that detect various forms of electromagnetic radiation, astronomers are able to gain a lot of information on various objects

  2. The Electromagnetic Spectrum • The electromagnetic spectrum is the complete spectrum or continuum of light including radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma rays • All light travels at a speed of 300,000 km/s in a vacuum • One way to think about light is as a traveling wave

  3. Wave Terminology • Wavelength - distance between two like points on the wave • Amplitude - the height of the wave compared to undisturbed state • Period - the amount of time required for one wavelength to pass • Frequency - the number of waves passing in a given amount of time (usually one second)

  4. Wavelength, Frequency and Energy • Since all light travels at the same speed, wavelength and frequency have an indirect relationship. • Light with a short wavelength will have a high frequency and light with a long wavelength will have a low frequency. • Light with short wavelengths has high energy and long wavelength has low energy

  5. Wave Relationships • If frequency increases, wavelength decreases • If frequency decreases, wavelength increases Transverse Wave

  6. Wavelength Units Meters Micrometers 1 nm = 1 x 10-9 meters, 0.000000001 m The Electromagnetic Spectrum

  7. The Electromagnetic Spectrum • What we see as white light is actually made up of a continuum of components • Traditionally, we break white light into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (ROY G BIV) • There is actually a continuous transition of color, each with its own wavelength and frequency

  8. The Electromagnetic Spectrum • Toward longer wavelengths, the spectrum includes infrared light, microwaves, and radio • Toward shorter wavelengths, the spectrum includes ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays • Human eyes are only able to process information from the visible part of the spectrum

  9. EM Spectrum in Astronomy • By looking at objects at different wavelengths, we get a different view and lots more information • Some objects are only visible at certain wavelengths • Astronomers can use the light from an object to measure its temperature and learn about it’s chemical composition

  10. The Sun at Different Wavelengths Visible Ultraviolet X-ray X-ray

  11. EM Spectrum in Astronomy • Astronomers use a tool called a spectroscope to separate starlight into its colors – in this way, they can tell what a star is made of, its temperature, luminosity and so on… Spectra of a Star

More Related