LIGHT AND THE APPLICATION OF OPTICS Optics Optics

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LIGHT AND THE APPLICATION OF OPTICS

LIGHT AND THE APPLICATION OF OPTICS

Optics Optics: The scientific study of sight and the behavior of light, or the

Optics Optics: The scientific study of sight and the behavior of light, or the properties of transmission and deflection of other forms of radiation In this unit, we will be investigating what visible light is, what differentiates it from other kinds of radiation, and what are the biological tools our body uses to allow us to ‘see’ light.

Optics Light is just one small section of a larger electromagnetic spectrum. ‘Light’ :

Optics Light is just one small section of a larger electromagnetic spectrum. ‘Light’ : A part of a electromagnetic spectrum of radiation given off in the form of energy that our body can detect. But that doesn’t mean that the energy stops there.

Optics Electromagnetic Radiation: Energy that is traveling in waves of perpendicular directions. This means

Optics Electromagnetic Radiation: Energy that is traveling in waves of perpendicular directions. This means that electrical waves travel in one plane while magnetic waves travel in the opposite plane Wavelength is the amount of distance between one peak to another in a traveling wave

Optics The visible light spectrum is only a very small part of all the

Optics The visible light spectrum is only a very small part of all the electromagnetic radiation that is bombarding you at all times. But the Ozone layer protects us from most of the high energy wavelengths emitted by the Sun.

The higher the energy of a wavelength, the shorter the wavelength is. Meaning, short

The higher the energy of a wavelength, the shorter the wavelength is. Meaning, short wavelengths can cause damage.

Our body requires protection from short wavelength radiation. We use Sunblock to help protect

Our body requires protection from short wavelength radiation. We use Sunblock to help protect us from these rays https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=yrs 3_F 5 u z. JI

Your eye is only sensitive to a specific band of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.

Your eye is only sensitive to a specific band of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. This is what we call “Light”

Different Animals see Differently Animals don’t all see the same portion of the Electromagnetic

Different Animals see Differently Animals don’t all see the same portion of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Many snakes, for example, see a portion of the infrared spectrum, which allows them to see the body heat signature of their prey.

Different Animals See Differently In addition, the tools that different animals have to ‘see’

Different Animals See Differently In addition, the tools that different animals have to ‘see’ result in a different perspective of the world. How do these different animals’ vision compare to yours?

Different Animals See Differently For example compare your human visible spectrum to that of

Different Animals See Differently For example compare your human visible spectrum to that of a dog As you can see, dogs can perceive blue, yellow and brown but few other colours. Dogs can, however, see a portion of the UV spectrum

Different Animals See Differently Seeing this portion of UV would be useful to dogs

Different Animals See Differently Seeing this portion of UV would be useful to dogs because urine gives off UV light which they use to mark territories and track their prey Also, UV light that is reflected would make it easier to see some prey in the wild (as poorly illustrated here)

Different Animals See Differently Dogs aren’t the only animals to see UV light, insects

Different Animals See Differently Dogs aren’t the only animals to see UV light, insects also use UV light to pinpoint targets in the wild. Flowers reflect portions of UV light to attract them to spread pollen.

Different Animals See Differently Here are some other examples of how insects see the

Different Animals See Differently Here are some other examples of how insects see the world, using UV light, compared to human vision

Optics In this unit we will be focusing on ‘visual’ light, but don’t forget

Optics In this unit we will be focusing on ‘visual’ light, but don’t forget that this is only a small portion of the Electromagnetic Spectrum, and just because you see a certain range of wavelengths, does not mean that all animals experience the world the same way that you do.