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Properties of Light.

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Presentation on theme: "Properties of Light."— Presentation transcript:

1 Properties of Light

2 Light as a Wave Light (or electromagnetic radiation), can be thought of as either a particle or a wave. As a wave, light has a wavelength,  (distance between waves) a frequency,  (number of waves passing you each second) a speed, c =   (this is always the same: 300,000 km/s) an energy, E = h  (where h is just a constant) Note that because the speed of light is a constant, , , and E are linked: if you know one, you know the other two.

3 The Electromagnetic Spectrum

4 Atmospheric Windows Not all light from space makes it through the earth’s atmosphere. In fact, only visible light, radio waves, and some infrared light makes it to the ground. The rest of the electromagnetic spectrum can only be observed from space.

5 The Doppler Shift v  c 
The wavelength emitted by an object is not always the wavelength you observe. If you are moving towards an object, you will see more waves per second (i.e., a higher frequency, like swimming upstream). The light will appear bluer and be blueshifted. Conversely, if you are moving away from an object, its light will be redshifted. v   c The faster the relative motion, the larger the red or blue shift.

6 Scattering of Light Dust in the Earth’s atmosphere (or in space) can scatter light. In general, short wavelength (blue) light gets scattered more than red light. That’s why the sky is blue.

7 Scattering of Light Dust in the Earth’s atmosphere (or in space) can scatter light. In general, short wavelength (blue) light gets scattered more than red light. That’s why the Sun is red at sunset. The long path through the atmosphere means all the blue photons are scattered away.

8 Scattering of Light In interstellar nebulae, stars behind large piles of dust will be reddened. Other parts will appear blue, due to the scattering by dust. This is just like the daytime sky.

9 1st Type of Radiation: Blackbody (or Thermal)
Anything that is hot (i.e., above absolute zero) produces light at all wavelengths – a continuous spectrum. But the amount of light given off at each wavelength is very sensitive to the object’s temperature. For hotter objects: Peak intensity shifts to shorter (bluer) wavelengths peak  1/T more light is created Total energy  T4

10 1st Type of Radiation: Blackbody (or Thermal)

11 Our bodies are a lot cooler than the Sun
Our bodies are a lot cooler than the Sun. So at which wavelength range do our bodies produce most of their light? A) Gamma ray B) Visible C) Infrared D) Ultra-violet E) X-ray

12 We are all shining!

13 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
In the Bohr model of the atom, the nucleus contains protons and neutrons. Circling around the nucleus (in orbitals) are electrons. Since electrons are attracted to the protons, they normally orbit in their lowest energy state (i.e., closest to the nucleus), called the ground state. Important: electrons can only orbit at very specific distances from the nucleus, and these distances are different for different elements. +

14 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
Suppose something collided into an electron orbiting in the lowest energy level. Some of the energy of the collision could kick the electron up to a higher level, or an excited state. +

15 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
Suppose something collided into an electron orbiting in the lowest energy level. Some of the energy of the collision could kick the electron up to a higher level, or an excited state. Eventually, when the electron falls back down, it has to give this energy back. It does so by giving off a photon of light. Since each orbital has a very specific level, electron transitions between the orbitals emit very specific amounts of energy. The spectrum from this process would not be continuous. Ephoton = E2-E1 + E1 E2 E3

16 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line

17 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
17

18 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line

19 Emission Line Spectra Since every element has a different set of atomic orbital energies, the emission line spectrum of every element is different. They are as unique as fingerprints!

20 Blackbody Spectra

21 Emission Line Spectra

22 Absorption Line Spectra
An object (like a star) emits a hot blackbody spectrum. Somewhere between you and the star (like on the outside of the star) is some cooler gas. That gas can absorb the photons which correspond to the atom’s energy levels. The result is an absorption spectrum.

23 Absorption Line Spectra
+ E1 E2 E3 E2-E1

24 Absorption Line Spectra

25 Absorption Line Spectra from the Sun

26 Why does the Sun produce absorption lines?
(1 Million K) 26

27 ? A B C

28 ? A B C

29 ? A B C

30 Continuous, Emission, and Absorption Spectra

31 Imagine yourself as an astronaut orbiting the Earth
Imagine yourself as an astronaut orbiting the Earth. You look out the window of your vehicle and see a flare on the surface of the Sun. You know that solar flares emit light at all wavelengths. How long until your ship is hit by the dangerous x-rays and gamma-rays? a) 8 days b) 8 hours c) 8 minutes d) 8 seconds e) No time at all. You are already getting hit by the x-rays and gamma-rays.

32 X-rays optical

33 An electron in an atom absorbs a photon and jumps from level 1 to level 3. It then falls from level 3 to level 2 and emits a photon, and then falls from level 2 to level 1 and emits another photon. Which of the statements below is true? a) Each of the 2 emitted photons has a higher frequency than the absorbed photon. b) Each of the 2 emitted photons has a higher energy than the absorbed photon c) Each of the 2 emitted photons has a longer wavelength than the absorbed photon. d) The combined energy of the 2 emitted photons is less than that of the absorbed photon. e) The speeds of the two emitted photons are different from that of the absorbed photon.

34 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
Suppose something collided into an electron orbiting in the lowest energy level. Some of the energy of the collision could kick the electron up to a higher level, or an excited state. Eventually, when the electron falls back down, it has to give this energy back. It does so by giving off a photon of light. Since each orbital has a very specific level, electron transitions between the orbitals emit very specific amounts of energy. The spectrum from this process would not be continuous. Ephoton = E3-E1 + E1 E2 E3

35 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
Suppose something collided into an electron orbiting in the lowest energy level. Some of the energy of the collision could kick the electron up to a higher level, or an excited state. Eventually, when the electron falls back down, it has to give this energy back. It does so by giving off a photon of light. Since each orbital has a very specific level, electron transitions between the orbitals emit very specific amounts of energy. The spectrum from this process would not be continuous. Ephoton = E3-E1 + E1 E2 E3

36 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
Suppose something collided into an electron orbiting in the lowest energy level. Some of the energy of the collision could kick the electron up to a higher level, or an excited state. Eventually, when the electron falls back down, it has to give this energy back. It does so by giving off a photon of light. Ephoton = E3-E2 Since each orbital has a very specific level, electron transitions between the orbitals emit very specific amounts of energy. The spectrum from this process would not be continuous. Ephoton = E3-E1 + E1 E2 E3

37 2nd Type of Radiation: Emission Line
Suppose something collided into an electron orbiting in the lowest energy level. Some of the energy of the collision could kick the electron up to a higher level, or an excited state. Eventually, when the electron falls back down, it has to give this energy back. It does so by giving off a photon of light. Ephoton = E3-E2 Emitted photons: Lower energies Longer wavelengths Lower frequencies Ephoton = E3-E1 Ephoton = E2-E1 + E1 E2 E3

38 While moving toward the Earth, a spaceship emits a photon of infrared radiation toward the Earth. Which of the following could happen at the surface of the Earth? a) The photon is detected at radio wavelengths. b) The photon is detected at optical wavelengths. c) The photon is detected at X-ray wavelengths. d) The photon is detected at gamma ray wavelengths.

39 While moving toward the Earth, a spaceship emits a photon of infrared radiation toward the Earth. Which of the following could happen at the surface of the Earth? a) The photon is detected at radio wavelengths. b) The photon is detected at optical wavelengths. c) The photon is detected at X-ray wavelengths. d) The photon is detected at gamma ray wavelengths.

40

41 Summary Wave characteristics of light The electromagnetic spectrum
wavelength (), frequency (), speed (c), energy (E) The electromagnetic spectrum light at different wavelengths Atmospheric absorption Light at some wavelengths is absorbed by the atmosphere and can’t reach the ground Doppler shift Light shifts wavelength if the light source is moving toward or away from you Why is the sky blue? The atmosphere scatters blue light more than red light

42 Summary 1st type of light: blackbody (thermal)
Produces a continuous spectrum As an object becomes hotter: The peak of intensity shifts to shorter (bluer) wavelengths: peak  1/T Total energy of its emitted light increases  T4 2nd type of light: line emission As an electron moves between discrete orbitals in an atom, light is emitted and absorbed at discrete wavelength The wavelengths of these lines are different for different elements, so they can be used as “fingerprints” in determining what stars are made of


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