Physics 102 Atoms to Galaxies Light Books for Course to Follow Along Discovering the Universe 9th Edition Light Follow along in Discovering the Universe Chapter 3 Section 1 4 It can cross large distance in short time It can travel faster than any other known phenomenon Light is how we gain information from distant objects Faster than sound Speed of Light 3 0 108 in vacuum Speed of Sound 340 in air Takes time for light to travel not instantaneous Light Year used for bigger distances o Standardized by speed of light o 1 9 461 1012 about 10 trillion It is made of energy It acts as both particles and waves Issac Newton s work with prisms 1672 o White light consists of spectrum of colors o Recombined colors back into white light with 2nd prism Thomas Young s Double slit experiment 1801 o Wave property of interference o Proved light had characteristics of wavelength Albert Einstein s photoelectric effect o Light has particle properties o Proved light travels as discrete energy packets photon Electromagnetic Spectrum Infrared Visible light is only one color of light Ultraviolet Light also known as electromagnetic radiation Light is energy transported as a wave o Colors how eyes interpret different wavelengths on the EM Frequency increases wavelength decreases o o 6 26 10 34 sec Amount of energy determined by frequency Frequency increases energy increases Physics 102 Atoms to Galaxies Purpose of Understanding Light Because of information from a distance Want to understand messenger to understand message Earth blocks some wavelengths and absorbs others Our view from universe is limited to kind of light that gets through atmosphere Objects appear differently in different wavelengths Different physical processes produce different wavelengths
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