Embedded Files
How We Use Visible Light
Visible light is the range of electromagnetic waves that humans can see. The sun, light bulbs, candles and fire are all things that people automatically think of when it comes to light, but visible light comes from many sources and in many colors. Each color has its own special frequency and wavelength. Aside from sight, there are other important uses for visible light. We concentrate visible light to make lasers to use in everything from surgery, to DVD players to laser pointers. Visible light waves also make our TV, computer and cell phone screens work.
What We Can Learn from Visible Light
Scientists can learn a lot about stars by observing the color of light they give off. The color of a star's light indicates how hot the star is and also the types of gases that it is made of. Satellites with cameras that capture visible light are continuously used to study and monitor the surface of our planet as well.
Visible Light Images
The Carina Nebula as seen in visible and infrared
Star fields in the constellation Cassiopeia showing various temperatures of stars
Other Info
Regular "white" light that comes from the sun, light bulbs and other sources isn't actually white at all but is all the colors of light combined together. That's why sunlight can be split up to make rainbows that we see when light passes through a prism.
Report abuse