Page 115 - The Creation Of The Universe

Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar) 113

band of the electromagnetic spectrum which provides precisely the
radiation required to maintain life on earth is very remarkable."
According to Campbell, this situation is "staggering". 66
Let us now examine these "staggering features of light" more closely.

From Ultraviolet to Infrared
We said that there was a range of 1:10 25 in the sizes of the longest and
shortest electromagnetic wavelengths. We also said that the amount of en-
ergy that was carried depended upon the wavelength: shorter wavelengths
pack more energy than longer ones. Another difference has to do with how
radiation at different wavelengths interacts with matter.
The shortest forms of radiation are called (in increasing order of wave-
length) "gamma rays", "X-rays", and "ultraviolet light". They have the abili-
ty to split atoms because they are so highly energized. All three can cause
molecules–especially organic molecules–to break up. In effect, they tear
matter apart at the atomic or molecular level.
Radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light begins at infrared
and extends up to radio waves. Its impact upon matter is less serious be-
cause the energy it conveys is not as great.
The "impact upon matter" that we spoke of has to do with chemical re-
actions. A significant number of chemical reactions can take place only if
energy is added to the reaction. The energy required to start a chemical re-
action is called its "energy threshold". If the energy is less than this thresh-
old, the reaction will never start and if it is more, it is of no good: in either
case, the energy will have been wasted.
In the whole electromagnetic spectrum, there is just one little band that
has the energy to cross this threshold exactly. Its wavelengths range be-
tween 0.70 microns and 0.40 microns and if you'd like to see it, you can:
just raise your head and look around–it's called "visible light". This radia-
tion causes chemical reactions to take place in your eyes and that is why
you are able to see.
The radiation known as "visible light" makes up 41% of sunlight even