AS101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Reflecting Telescope, Electromagnetic Radiation
Document Summary
Astronomical telescopes and instruments extending humanity"s vision: Electromagnetic radiation is changing electric and magnetic fields that travel through space and transfer energy from one place to another. Wavelength i the distance between successive peaks or troughs of a wave. Infrared is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than red light ranging from 700nm to about 1mm between visible light and radio waves. Ultraviolet is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths shorter than violet light between visible light and x rays. X rays are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than ultraviolet light. Gamma rays is the shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves. Photon is a quantum of electromagnetic energy that carries an amount of energy that increases proportionally with its frequency but decreases proportionally with its wavelength. Atmospheric window is wavelength region win which our atmosphere is transparent at visual, radio, and some infrared wavelengths.
