Light, Matter, and Telescopes

Telescopes

• Infrared Telescopes

• X-Ray Telescopes

• Gamma Ray Telescopes

Waves vs

Particles

-A wave is a pattern of motion that carries energy without matter.

-Different wavelengths create different colors

-wave length x frequency= wave speed

-Particles are photons (bundles of energy). Each photon has a wavelength and frequency.

-Energy=hf

Structure of Matter

• Everything is made up of atoms. The volume of an atom equals 1,000 trillion times that of a nucleus.
• Atomic terminology
• atomic number
• atomic mass number
• isotopes

Chemical Makeup of Light

Electrons in atoms can only occupy certain states of energy...

Light Spectra

Energy levels in a molecule of light occur due to the molecules either vibrating or rotating

-Level 1 is the "ground state", or the lowest energy of an atom

The energy level of the molecules determine the frequency and wavelength of the spectra.

Light

Telescopes

• The best ground-sites for astronomical observing are
• Calm
• High
• Dark
• Dry

• Why do we use telescopes in space?

-A form of energy (measured in watts) that can act like a wave or particles.

-Four Reactions of light: Emission, Absorption, Transmission, and Reflection/Scattering

-Every object absorbs colors, but just transmits one.

Emission line spectrum: light that comes from a cloud of gas that produces specific wavelengths.

Shattering light

Reflection

Continuous line spectrum: Light passes from a direct source and spans all visible wavelengths w/o interruption.

Absorption line spectrum: Absorption of light from the light source causes dark spots in the spectra.

Light,

Matter,

& Telescopes

Collin O'Hara, Emma Wall, ans Mary Rigatuso

Phases of Matter

• Phases
• solid
• liquid
• gas
• Chemical bonds

Telescopes

• Refracting telescope

• Reflecting telescope

• What do astronomers do with telescopes?
• Imaging
• Spectroscopy
• timing

• The lens in the eye refracts light rays and brings a focus on the retina

• What is Refraction?

• A camera focuses light like an eye and captures the image with a "detector"

• 2 most important properties of a telescope
• Light-Collecting Ares
• Angular Resolution

Phase Changes

• Ionization: Stripping of electrons, changing atoms into plasma
• Dissociation: Breaking of molecules into atoms
• Evaporation: Breaking of flexible chemical bonds, changing liquids into gas
• Melting: Breaking of rigid chemical bonds, changing solid into liquid

Light, Matter, and Telescopes.

By: Collin O'Hara, Emma Wall, and Mary Rigatuso