Astronomy Unit 3:Big Bang and Electromagnetic Radiation

Electromagnetic Radiation and the Big Bang

Astronomy Unit 3

• Electromagnetic Spectrum– How we know what stars are made of.

• The Big Bang– Inflation of the Universe– 13.7 Billion Years ago

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bula

ry• electromagnetic radiation: a form of energy that travels

through space as waves; called EM radiation for short

• electromagnetic spectrum: the variety of forms of EM

radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and X-

rays

• optical telescope: an instrument that uses light and lenses to

study distant objects

• radio telescope: an instrument that collects and analyzes radio

waves from stars and other objects in space

• observatory: a building or room that houses one or more

telescopes

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electromagnetic radiation: a form of energy that travels

through space as waves; called EM radiation for short

electromagnetic spectrum: the variety of forms of EM

radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and

X-rays

optical telescope: an instrument that uses light and lenses to

study distant objects

radio telescope: an instrument that collects and analyzes

radio waves from stars and other objects in space

observatory: a building or room that houses one or more

telescopes

electromagnetic radiation: a form of energy that travels

through space as waves; called EM radiation for short

electromagnetic spectrum: the variety of forms of EM

radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and X-

rays

optical telescope: an instrument that uses light and lenses to

study distant objects

radio telescope: an instrument that collects and analyzes radio

waves from stars and other objects in space

observatory: a building or room that houses one or more

telescopes

Unit

3 Vo

cabu

lary

Unit

3 Vo

cabu

lary

electromagnetic radiation: a form of energy that travels through

space as waves; called EM radiation for short

electromagnetic spectrum: the variety of forms of EM radiation,

such as radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and X-rays

optical telescope: an instrument that uses light and lenses to

study distant objects

radio telescope: an instrument that collects and analyzes radio

waves from stars and other objects in space

observatory: a building or room that houses one or more

telescopes

electromagnetic radiation: a form of energy that travels

through space as waves; called EM radiation for short

electromagnetic spectrum: the variety of forms of EM

radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and

X-rays

optical telescope: an instrument that uses light and lenses to

study distant objects

radio telescope: an instrument that collects and analyzes

radio waves from stars and other objects in space

observatory: a building or room that houses one or more

telescopes

Unit

3 Vo

cabu

lary

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Ultra

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Infra

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Glue HereRemember only 8 dots of glue!

Electromagnetic SpectrumFold here

Electromagnetic Radiation• What are the 6 different

types of electromagnetic radiation?

• What makes them different from one another?

• What type of EM radiation is a rainbow?

• They Might Be Giants: Roy G. Biv

Electromagnetic Spectrum

• electromagnetic radiation: a form of energy that travels through space as waves; called EM radiation for

short

• electromagnetic spectrum: the variety of forms of EM radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, visible

light, and X-rays

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WavestownWaves

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Radio Waves• Size: Radio waves range from the

size of a water bottle to the diameter of the Earth

• Source– Neutron Stars– Radio Tower

• Detection– Radio Satellite

Austin’s Radio Towers on Mount Larsen

Microwaves• Size millimeter

wavelengths• Sources

– Human Signals UHF TV– Big Bang – Cosmic

Background Radiation– Sun– Supermassive Black Holes

• Detection– Remote Sensing and

Weather

Simulated microwave release from supermassive blackhole

Cosmic Background Radiation from the Big Bang

Infrared Radiation (IR)

• Source– Heat From sun– Re-radiation of Heat– Warming effect on Earth

• Detection– Spitzer Space Telescope– Weather Radars– Pit Vipers

Infrared Cat

The image on the left shows an optical view of a star forming region. The same area is shown on the right in infrared radiation. Notice how the infrared observations penetrate the obscuring cloud to reveal many new details.

Infrared Image of Boston Bomber

Visible Light

• Source– Sun and Lightbulbs

• Detection– Telescope on the roof of

RLM Building at UT– McDonald Observatory– Hubble Space Telescope

Photo of Saturn from telescope on top of RLM at UT

Hubble and Hubble photo of Jupiter

Ultraviolet (UV)

• Source– Stars – (Produces sunburns and makes

vitamin D)– Ozone blocks UV radiation

– Black Lights and Electric Arcs

• Detection– Insects– NASA's Extreme

Ultraviolet Explorer satellite

X-Rays

• Source– Stars– Neutron stars and from

object being pulled into a black hole

• Detection– Chandra X-Ray

Observatory

Auroras of Jupiter Picture used overlain images from Chandra and Hubble

Gamma Radiation

• Size– Wavelengths are smaller

than an atom• Source– Supernovas– Produced on Earth from

Radioactive Decay and Lightning

• Detection– Fermi Gamma Ray Space

Telescope

Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope

Concepts Regarding Electromagnetic Spectrum

• Electromagnetic (EM) radiation is a form of energy that can travel through space. The different forms of EM radiation make up the electromagnetic spectrum. Light, radio waves, microwaves, and X-rays are all forms of EM radiation.

• Each form of EM radiation has a certain range of wavelengths and frequencies. All forms travel through space at the same speed, which is 3.0 108 meters per second. This value is called the speed of light.

• Stars and other objects of the universe give off visible light and other forms of EM radiation. The eyes and optical telescopes can detect the light that they give off. Other telescopes have been built to detect radio waves, microwaves, and X-rays from space.

• To reach Earth’s surface, EM radiation from space must pass through Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere distorts or blocks some of the radiation. This limits the usefulness of Earth-bound telescopes.

• Other telescopes, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, are aboard satellites. These telescopes can detect EM radiation from space very clearly. They produce very detailed, highly magnified images of objects in space.

• Scientists study the data from telescopes. This lets them learn about the distances and physical properties of stars and other components of the universe.

Telescopes and their WavelengthsVideo: Wavelenths and Fermi

All EM Radiation Travels at the speed of light.

• Each form of EM radiation has a certain range of wavelengths and frequencies. All forms travel through space at the same speed, which is 3.0 108 meters per second. This value is called the speed of light.

Electromagnetic Radiation meets the Earth’s Atmosphere

• Which type of EM radiation reaches the earth’s surface?

UltravioletVisible

Infrared Radio

What types of Electromagnetic radiation reach the Earth’s Surface?1.2.3.4.

Electromagnetic Radiation

What types of Electromagnetic radiation reach the Earth’s Surface?1.2.3.4.

Electromagnetic Radiation

How do we know what we know about the Universe?

• We know what we know because these inventions.

• Collect this data.

• Which is interpreted by these scientist.

Importance of Electromagnetic Radiation

• Astronomical Images in Different Wavelengths

• Electromagnetic Radiation provides the data that scientist use to understand the distances and physical properties of stars and other components of the universe.

• Scientist use telescopes to detect electromagnetic radiation from space.

• To reach Earth’s surface, EM radiation from space must pass through Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere distorts or blocks some of the radiation. This limits the usefulness of Earth-bound telescopes.

Images using different wavelengthsAstronomical Images in Different Wavelengths