Download Visible Light

Visible Light
It’s Visible!
By Hoot Hennessy, Owen Weitzman, and Chris D’agostino
A Few Details
• Visible light has wavelengths between
7.5e-7 meters and 4e-7 meters.
• Visible light has frequencies ranging
between 4e14 Hz and 7.5e14 Hz.
• It fits between Infrared and Ultraviolet light
on the Electromagnetic Spectrum.
• Visible light is the only light that we can
see (hence the name “visible”!).
Some Uses of Visible Light
The primary use of
Visible light is vision!
Visible light is the only
type of light that our
eyes are responsive
to.
More Uses
• Still and motion
photography both
depend on visible
light! Chemicals in
film react with visible
light and create an
image that we can
see.
More Uses
• Visible light can also be
used for spectroscopy.
This is the measurement
of what parts of the
spectrum a certain
material reflects and
absorbs. This can be
used in astronomy to
determine the chemical
makeup of far-away
objects.
Even More Uses
• Visible light can be
concentrated into
laser radiation, which
can be used to read
data from CDs and
DVDs, as well as
performing very
precise surgery, as a
powerful enough laser
can cut through
human flesh.
And More Uses!
• Without visible light,
we wouldn’t be able
to see things on a
television screen.
• Without visible light,
reading and sign
language wouldn’t
work, because we
wouldn’t be able to
see.
Animals
• Many animals other
than ourselves can
see visible light.
However, there are
many animals that
can also see different
parts of the Electro
Magnetic spectrum.
Who Discovered Visible Light?
• Who?
•
Isaac Newton
• When?
•
Summer of 1666
• Where?
•
England
• How?
•
He split light into a spectrum with
glass.
Can it be Dangerous?
• High energy blue light
can cause damage to
the eyes, and lead to
macular
degeneration.
• Lasers can burn
people, but these
don’t occur naturally.
Some Facts!
• The color of visible
light is determined
by wavelength.
• There are 7
spectral colors.
• More colors can be
created by mixing
visible light of
different
wavelengths.
Some More Facts!
• Indigo is hard to
distinguish from
blue and violet for
some people.
Therefore, some
people don’t think
that it should be a
spectral color.
Bibliography
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Bond Laser. Photograph. Ken Atchity the Story Merchant. Web. <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_px5XH9V1ZY/SluGbMwb7yI/AAAAAAAAAUk/2qr_cwnhdkI/s320/Bond+Laser.jpg>.
Bumble Bee (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Photograph. Wimbledon Bees. Web. <http://www.wimbledonbees.co.uk/images/bumblebee.jpg>.
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2010. .
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