Spectrum Notes
***The electromagnetic spectrum consists of all the different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation (energy), including light, radio waves, and x-rays.
*Visible Light
-Astronomers use spectroscopes to view visible light from stars to get information about the stars chemical compositions and temperature.
*What light shows chemical composition.
-Chemical elements in a star's atmosphere absorb light from the star.
-Each element absorbs light at different wavelengths, and each absorbed wavelength appears as a dark line on a spectrum.
*How light shows temperature.
-The amount of energy elements absorb depends on the temperature of the star.
-Because of this, stars at a different temperatures produce different line spectrum
- Dark-high temp.
- Faded- low temp
*Radio Waves
-Scientist use radio waves to find distance.
-Radio waves are sent out to distant objects, they bounce off the object and come back, how long it takes for the wave to come back is used to calculate distance.
-Astronomers use spectroscopes to view visible light from stars to get information about the stars chemical compositions and temperature.
*What light shows chemical composition.
-Chemical elements in a star's atmosphere absorb light from the star.
-Each element absorbs light at different wavelengths, and each absorbed wavelength appears as a dark line on a spectrum.
*How light shows temperature.
-The amount of energy elements absorb depends on the temperature of the star.
-Because of this, stars at a different temperatures produce different line spectrum
- Dark-high temp.
- Faded- low temp
*Radio Waves
-Scientist use radio waves to find distance.
-Radio waves are sent out to distant objects, they bounce off the object and come back, how long it takes for the wave to come back is used to calculate distance.