[ASTR 1210] - Final Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam (35 pages long!)

• School: University of Virginia
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: ASTR 1210
• Professor: L I Shiqiao

Document Summary

Today: nature of light, properties of matter. Light is made up of many different colors: very hot material emits visible light (sun, wire in light bulb, cool light (from a chair) doesn"t emit visible light by itself. Absorbs and reflects it i. e. red chair = absorbs blue light, reflects red light. Absorption: materials that absorb = opaque. Transmission (allow some to pass through: materials that transmit = transparent. Reflection (or redirecting or scattering: reflection = bouncing in same general direction, scattering = more random. How do we experience light: light is a form of energy, light comes in many colors that combine to form white light. How does light interact with matter: matter can emit, absorb, transmit, and reflect (redirect/scatter) light, interactions between light and matter determine the appearance of everything we see around us. Light can act either like a wave or like a particle. Pebble in the pond analogy: waves ripple in the pond.