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Unit 9: Light Page 17

Nevertheless, it’s the way the detectors to find the rest of the

universe is wired. photons zipping around.

How does light behave?

Light which can be defined by four
things: intensity (how bright),
frequency (or wavelength),
polarization (the direction of the
electric field), and phase (time
shift).

Let’s take a look at each one of
Radio signals are picked up using
these things in detail:
an antenna (similar to your

What is wavelength and satellite dish in the backyard).
frequency?
X-rays are more difficult to detect,
because they would rather go
The electromagnetic spectrum
through the detector than bounce
shows the different energies of
off of it, so we use complicated
light and how the energy relates to
mathematics and the shadows of
different frequencies. In ‘math-
the photons to “see” x-rays.
speak’, the wavelength (l) equals
the speed of light (c) divided by
Gamma rays are the toughest to
the frequency (n), or
detect – they are very highly
l ll l = c / n nn n.
energized packets of light that
would rather zoom through mirrors
8
The speed of light is: c = 3 x 10
than be detected.
m/s (300,000,000 meters per
second).
What about colors?

You and I don’t detect most
Do you see where the “visible light”
electromagnetic waves. Our
rainbow section is in the
eyeballs can only ‘see’ in the 400-
electromagnetic spectrum image
700 nm (nanometer) range, which
on the next page? This small area
is only a small part of the entire
shows the light that you can
spectrum, so we need special
actually see with your eyeballs.

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