Unit 4: Tools of Astronomy

Front

Electromagnetic Wave

Back

A fancy name for light. Each wave has a wavelength, frequency, speed, and energy.

Front

The Speed of Light

Back

30,000,000 meters per second.

Front

Wavelength

Back

The distance between one peak or trough on a wave to the next peak or trough.

Front

Frequency

Back

The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time.

Front

Radio Waves

Back

Longest wavelengths in the EM spectrum. Passes through walls easily, useful for communication and detecting intelligent life on exoplanets.

Front

Microwaves

Back

Wavelength range: 1000 mm to 1 mm. Not very useful in astronomy. Easily absorbed by water molecules. Can't melt the Golden Gate Bridge.

Front

Infrared Waves

Back

Wavelength range: 2000 nm to 700 nm. Useful for seeing cold objects, star-forming regions, protostars, cool stars, distant galaxies, and the early universe.

Front

Visible Light

Back

Wavelength range: 700 nm to 400 nm. The range of light that the Sun makes the most of.

Front

Ultraviolet Light

Back

Wavelength range: 400 nm to 10 nm. Can damage the human body, causing cancer. Made by hot objects like the Sun.

Front

X-Rays

Back

Wavelength range: 10 nm to 10 pm. Made by nukes, dentists, and galaxy centers. Used to detect supernovae and take pictures of black holes.