Page 64 - The Miracle in the Atom
P. 64

THE  MIRACLE IN THE ATOM

                              ted colour reach the retina in the eye, they are converted
                              to electrical signals by the cone cells in the retina in such
              Radio
              Waves           a way to be perceived as blue and sent to the brain. Even-
                              tually, the colour blue is formed in the brain.
                                   This means that the colour of an object depends on

                              the character of the light emitted from the light source
                              and how much of this light is re-emitted by the object in
                              question. For instance, the colour of a dress is not the sa-
              Micro
              Waves
                              me under sunlight and in a store. If an object is perceived
                              as black by our brain, it means that this object absorbs all
                              the light coming from the sun reflecting none to the out-
                              side. In the same manner, if the object reflects all light co-
                              ming from the sun and does not absorb any of it, then it is
              Infrared
              rays            perceived as white by our brain. In this case, the points
                              that need careful consideration are the following:
                                   1. The colour of an object depends on the properties
              Visible         of the light emitted by the light source.
              light
                                   2. The colour of an object depends on the reaction of
                              the electrons of the molecules in its structure, as to which
               Ultra
               violet         light these electrons will absorb and which they will not.
               rays
                                   3. The colour of an object depends on how our brain
                              will perceive the photon striking the retina.
                                   Here, let us stop and think once more.
              X Rays
                                   The electrons that revolve at incredible speed aro-
                              und the nucleus of the atom, which is a matter too small
                              to be seen with the eye, suddenly disappear from their
                              own shells and jump to another place called a sub-shell.
                              There also needs to be a space available on the sub-shell
                              for this leap. They are supplied the energy they require
              Gama
              Rays
                              A great variety of rays arrive on the
                              earth from the sun. As seen in the
                              electromagnetic spectrum to left, we
                              only perceive a very small portion of
                              these rays.

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