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Herschels Experiment
An experiment made to measure temperature of visible light with different
colors. During the experiment, he noticed that from purple to red the
temperature increased. However beyond the red there was a light with a
higher temperature than the ray of red light. This was called infrared, a light
that cannot be seen by the human eye.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
A term used by scientist to describe the complete range of light that
exist, and those can vary from radio waves to gamma rays.
It travel at the speed of light, C, 3.00 x 10^8 m/s
Electromagnetic waves all are arranged by frequency and wavelength.
A medium may slow down the speed of light
Engineering connections
Problem: What is the amount of heat within the rays of blue, red, and
Infrared colors?
Research: Based on observation, the prism alters the flow of light creating
the light spectrum(rainbow).
Materials
Box
Thermometers with painted black tips.(Needs painted tips to insure
that more heat is absorbed into the thermometer)
Timer
Chart
Factors: Suns position, climate, and Prism light concentration.
Trials
Shade
Blue
Red
Infrared
Initial
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35
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36
1 min
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38
2 min
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40
3 min
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41
4 min
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41
5 min
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38
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41
6 min
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7 min
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43
8 min
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9 min
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10 min
35
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45
Change
Results
Thermometer with greatest difference:The thermometer measuring
infrared light changed the most.
Expectation:Expectation wasn't meet, we thought the the blue ray of light
would have the most change.
Problems encountered during the experiment: Thermometers were not
aligned, too much shade in the box making the prism not function properly .
Changes for next time: Align thermometers properly to get less skewed
results and perfect the box.
Summary: As we completed this experiment we noticed that the one with
the most change would be infrared, proving our prediction incorrect that the
one will be red.