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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