BIOL 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Delocalized Electron, Conjugated System
23 Nov 2017
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Document Summary
Light can be source of information and energy. Sun is a source of light and releases energy in form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation (contains electrical and magnetic component in wavelength form) Electrical and magnetic wavelengths are perpendicular to each other. Wavelength is measured as the distance between two peaks (measured in nanometers) Humans can detect visible light (400-700 nm) which is in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. We can see the evidence or effect of non-visible electromagnetic spectrum on us eg. sun burn from uv light, or x-ray. High wavelengths (with more distance between the two peaks) have lower energy and vice versa shorter wavelengths ae more problematic eg. gamma, x ray. Photons have precise amount of energy (no mass) *most biologically important in order to cause an effect. How light is captured: photons are absorbed through pigments all pigments have carbons linked by alternating single and double bonds (conjugated system)
