Visible Light

It’s Visible!

By Hoot Hennessy, Owen Weitzman, and Chris D’agostino

A Few Details

• Visible light has wavelengths between 7.5e-7 meters and 4e-7 meters.

• Visible light has frequencies ranging between 4e14 Hz and 7.5e14 Hz.

• It fits between Infrared and Ultraviolet light on the Electromagnetic Spectrum.

• Visible light is the only light that we can see (hence the name “visible”!).

Some Uses of Visible Light

The primary use of Visible light is vision! Visible light is the only type of light that our eyes are responsive to.

More Uses

• Still and motion photography both depend on visible light! Chemicals in film react with visible light and create an image that we can see.

More Uses

• Visible light can also be used for spectroscopy. This is the measurement of what parts of the spectrum a certain material reflects and absorbs. This can be used in astronomy to determine the chemical makeup of far-away objects.

Even More Uses

• Visible light can be concentrated into laser radiation, which can be used to read data from CDs and DVDs, as well as performing very precise surgery, as a powerful enough laser can cut through human flesh.

And More Uses!

• Without visible light, we wouldn’t be able to see things on a television screen.

• Without visible light, reading and sign language wouldn’t work, because we wouldn’t be able to see.

Animals

• Many animals other than ourselves can see visible light. However, there are many animals that can also see different parts of the Electro Magnetic spectrum.

Who Discovered Visible Light?

• Who?• Isaac Newton

• When?• Summer of 1666

• Where?• England

• How?• He split light into a spectrum with

glass.

Can it be Dangerous?

• High energy blue light can cause damage to the eyes, and lead to macular degeneration.

• Lasers can burn people, but these don’t occur naturally.

Some Facts!

• The color of visible light is determined by wavelength.

• There are 7 spectral colors.

• More colors can be created by mixing visible light of different wavelengths.

Some More Facts!

• Indigo is hard to distinguish from blue and violet for some people. Therefore, some people don’t think that it should be a spectral color.

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