The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Electromagnetic Spectrum There are certain components that make the world around a better habitation and beautiful for human beings. One of such components is the light, which enables us to see each other, and it ensures a harmonious coexistence between human beings. It is unimaginable of living in a world devoid of light; such a thing would make survival very hard.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Electromagnetic Spectrum specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This report will look into the various types of instruments used to display light, and how they separate light into various components and how those components may be used in diverse ways of making the human survival on planet earth better. The first instrument in the separation of light, which require discussion, is the electromagnetic spectrum. The invention of this instrument that of late has been integrated into other devices meant a lot in the study of light as well as in a stronomy. The electromagnetic spectrum was first made from a prism, which separated white lights into different lights that were of different colors. The different colors came about because the natural light otherwise known as the white light made up different kinds of rays that travel at different wavelength. Though the electromagnetic spectrum did not indicate various wavelengths in which the light photons travelled at, it separated the light into various rays (Browning 39). The other instrument is the spectrometer that is one of the instruments used frequently in matters to do with separation of lights. It is notable that the natural light or the white light has various components that are important for people to be aware. These components of light are the infrared, the ultra violet rays and gamma rays. These components of light differentiated according to their wavelengths in order to distinguish them. One of the tools used in the separation of lights is the spectrometer and it separates the natural light into the diverse wavelength contained therein (Browning 44). The spectrometer is therefore an instrument that measures light by taking into consideration its wavelength. The spectrometer indicates the wavelength of the particular ray. It contains an electromagnetic spectrum, which separates different types of rays contained in a given white light directed to the spectrometer to measure the wavelength of that ray.Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because various rays mentioned above that is the infrared, the gammas rays the ultraviolet rays all travel in different wavelengths. The spectrometer indicated the length of the wave that is visible. This made it easier for the wave classification on whether it was for the gamma rays, X rays, the infrared or the ultra violet rays (Browning 54). The other type of device used in the se paration of lights is the spectroscope made using prisms, which has different levels of diffraction to diffract different types of rays on different wavelengths. The modern spectroscopes are modified with the integrated technology, that is different instruments placed in one device such that one device can perform various functions previously done by different kinds of instruments (Faust and Sternberg 67). The spectroscope therefore is a combination of electromagnetic spectrum, which is for diffracting different components of light and a photo detector to detect the light waves. Other than separating light into various components, the spectroscope detects the elements from which the light came from. Robert Bunsen and Gustav Robert put this method in place by explaining that when a particular element receives heat until it produces light is characterized by nature of that element. This means that each element has its own atomic components that are different from that of other element s. When that element is heated, it produces light whose wavelength and color is different from that of other elements (Jay 45). The other closely related instrument is the spectrograph that record spectrum of astronomic once it is obtained so that analysis can be done. This instrument was invented because of advancement in the field of photography. The advancement in photographic films, such that the films had effects of the other forms of light such as the infrared, the X-rays, the ultra violet rays meant that various waves of the lights could be captured and recorded on the film. The spectrograph therefore is a device combining the integrated technology of the spectroscope and the photographic film for recording and detecting various wavelengths emitted by different elements whose light the spectrograph can detect. The modern spectrograph separates the wave of a particular ray into frequency wavelengths that are visible. The recent spectrographs make it possible to view the detect ed ray on a computer thus making it easier to classify the type of light that the wave is from and the kind of element, which has produced such kind of light. The recording of these lights have also led to the discovery of paint pigments as well as new elements not known before (James 25).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Electromagnetic Spectrum specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The other instrument is the beam splitter, which is a device that splits natural light into two. It is a rectangular instrument with two prisms joined together. The beam splitter can also be made of a glass with one side covered with half silver. Depending on the kind of covers used, the beam splitter splits the light into different wavelengths visible to the human eye. Telescope is another device that is relevant to separation of lights, though its basic use is that of observation of remote objects or long distance objects it ma kes use of the principle of separation of lights to detect the space objects to such as the stars. The telescope combines and separates the rays emitted by the object. It then focuses on that particular ray and the path from which it has come from. That means that telescope is able to focus on one particular star without faltering or drifting to another star (Palmer 88). The modern telescopes are well advanced such that they have inbuilt integrated systems which analyze the elements and materials which are contained by the object which they are viewing. The modern telescopes can be categorized into the optical telescope and the radio telescope. The optical telescope increase the angular size of the object such that the object becomes larger and brighter thus making it more visible. The object when photographed is clear and the photos are stored for further scrutiny (Palmer 72). Other than the field of astronomy, these lens used in optical telescope have other uses such as in spyglas ses and binoculars. The optical telescopes have a further classification into various forms depending on the kind of ray that they use. This means that there are x-ray telescopes, infrared telescopes, gamma ray telescope, and ultraviolet telescope. The x-ray telescopes are used to detect metal components of the stars and other planets in the universe. The ultraviolet detect various elements but mostly used to look for plant components in other planets. The other form of telescope is the radio telescope. This kind of telescope does not deal with light only but it detects microwave radiations (Palmer 69). Conclusion The study of light has changed our world more than expected. The fiber optic used to transfer data from one place to another uses light. The separation of light can be credited to have contributed a lot in this because natural light alone with its potentialities cannot avail the gains brought about by various components of light. As stated earlier, though many theorists do not consider light as a basic need for human survival it is still a basic need usually presumed. Food, derived from plants comes about because of photosynthesis made possible by the availability of ultraviolet rays, which originate from the sun. The separation of light has also led to the discovery of elements that remained unknown until the rays indicated that there were such substances. Elements such as lithium and uranium are some of the elements whose existence came to be because of various waves.Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Other planets may be in oblivion without the instruments that made it possible to separate lights. In the past, only light from the sun-enabled people to see during the day. However, many wonders of the universe such as the planets and stars have been visible during the nights due to the separation of lights. Light is important in the basic survival of the modern man more than any other time in history. Browning, John. How to Work With the Spectroscope: A Manual of Practical Manipulation. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1989. Print Faust, James and Sternberg, Richard. The Design of Optical Spectrometer. Berlin: Chapman and Hall Ltd, 1969. Print. James, John. Spectrograph Design Fundamentals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print Jay, Pasachoff. Contemporary Astronomy. Philadelphia: Saunders Colleges Publishing, 1981. Print Palmer, Christopher. Diffraction Grating Handbook, 6th edition. California: Newport Corporation, 2005. Print