LIGHT

Light is one form of electromagnetic energy. A chart of all the radiant energy is called the electromagnetic spectrum and can be divided into seven main categories: radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma ray.



Visible light waves are a small part of the spectrum and the only part that humans can see. The colors that humans can see are different wave frequencies within the visible range. There are six visible colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Red light has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength. Most of the sun's energy is emitted as visible light.



Light is produced when atoms get excited. As they are bumped by particles, struck by another light source, or heated, their electrons move to higher energy levels or energy shells / clouds. When these electrons return to their original energy levels,
energy in the form of light is given off. The
amount of energy needed to exit an atom varies
from atom to atom. Light, once emitted, (as a photon),
travels in a straight line and will continue to do
so until striking something. Light reacts differently
as it strikes different types of matter. If is strikes a
hard, smooth, shiny surface such as a mirror,
light is reflected, bouncing off at the same
angle it hit the mirror. If light strikes a very
dark surface, the light will be absorbed and
transferred into heat energy. If the light hits uneven or
bumpy surfaces, it will scatter and diffuse, bouncing off at different angles
than the angle it struck the object.


Of an object appears black, it is not reflecting any light. If an object appears white it is reflecting all wavelengths of light. Color is a property of light. Some objects absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others.


What part of the visible spectrum are you quite sure GREEN plants will not use when converting carbon dioxide, water and light energy into chemical food energy? Why are you certain?

Think then click...



























GREEN PLANTS
Green plants are green because they reflect the green wavelength of the visible spectrum. Green plants do not use the green wavelength favoring the blue and red wavelengths for photosynthesis. The electrons in Cholorphyll are excited to higher energy levels or electron shells by the red and blue wavelengths of light. How could you test this to be certain that green light is reflected by green plants???