AY 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Continuous Spectrum, Chemical Element
15 Jul 2016
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This chapter"s main purpose was to show how we learn about the universe by observing the light of distant objects. Every time we build a bigger telescope, develop a more sensitive detector, or open up a new wavelength region to study, we learn more about the universe. What is light: light is an electromagnetic wave, but also comes in individual pieces called photons. Each photon has a precise wavelength, frequency, and energy: the shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency and energy. In order of decreasing wavelength, the forms of light are radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x rays, and gamma rays. What is matter: ordinary matter is made of atoms, which are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Atoms of different chemical elements have different numbers of protons. Isotopes of a particular chemical element all have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Molecules are made from two or more atoms.
