Electromagnetic Spectrum in Spaceby

Sandy PopeCRMS

EXPLORE Distortion of LightHow can light become distorted?PROCEDUREPlace a white sheet of paper behind a glassfilled with plain water. Shine a flashlightthrough the glass, and observe the spot oflight on the paper.Pour a spoonful of salt into the water.Stir the water, and observe the spot of light.WHAT DO YOU THINK?• How did the spot of light change afteryou mixed the salt into the water?• How could Earth’s atmosphere causesimilar changes in light from space?

MATERIALS• flashlight

• glass filled with

water

• sheet of white

paper

• spoon

• salt

How can light become distorted?

Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation (ih-LEHKtroh-mag-NEHT-ihk), which is energy that travels across distances as certain types of waves. There are other forms of electromagnetic radiation that you cannot see directly, such as radio waves, microwaves, ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays. Scientists have developed instruments to detect these other forms. Electromagnetic radiation travels in all directions throughout space.

Electromagnetic radiation

The different forms of electromagnetic

radiation vary in their wavelengths.

This is the same kind of energy that radio stations emit into the air for your radio to capture and turn into your favorite Rap, Country or Rock tunes. But radio waves are also emitted by other things ... such as stars and gases in space. Radio telescopes, helps us learn about composition, structure and motion of objects in space

Radio Waves

If our eyes could see radio waves.

: They will cook your popcorn in just a few minutes and send signals to

your cell phone in seconds. Microwaves in space are used by astronomers to learn about the structure of nearby galaxies, and our own Milky Way! Radar, good for viewing Earth from space.

Microwaves

This is not a microwave oven. It analyzes natural microwaves from space.

Our skin emits infrared light, which is why we can be seen in the dark by

someone using night vision goggles. Infrared is transmitted as thermal energy. In space, IR light maps the dust between stars.

Infrared waves

Yes, this is the part that our eyes see. Visible radiation is emitted by everything from fireflies to light bulbs to stars ... also by fast-moving particles hitting other particles

Visible light waves

If you shine a flashlight through a prism, the beam of white light will separate into a range of colors called a (SPEHK-truhm). The colors that make up visible light are red, orange, yellow, green,blue, indigo, and violet. These are the colors in a rainbow, which appears when light spreads out as it passes through raindrops.

ROYGBIV

Prism

In a spectrum, the colors of visible light appear in the order of

their wavelengths. is the distance between one wave peak

and the next wave peak.

WAVELENGTH

We know that the Sun is a source of ultraviolet (or UV) radiation,

because it is the UV rays that cause our skin to burn! Stars and other "hot" objects in space emit UV radiation. Can use them to measure dim or faint galaxies or stars, helps learn about structure and evolution of stars.

Ultraviolet rays

Your doctor uses them to look at your bones and your dentist to look at your teeth.

Hot gases in the Universe also emit X-rays. Used to see photons from black holes, stars, supernovas and some comets.

X-rays

Radioactive materials (some natural and others made by man in things

like nuclear power plants) can emit gamma-rays. Big particle accelerators that scientists use to help them understand what matter is made of can sometimes generate gamma-rays. Given off by the HOTTEST regions. Needs a compton telescope to detect.!

Gamma – Rays

The engine that powers short gamma-ray bursts

Radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray.

Infrared, visible, ultraviolet, EXTREME ultraviolet, X-Ray, and Gamma Ray.

The EndWritten bySandy Pope

Crystal River Middle School