ASTRONOMY 192
WAVES AND LIGHT

(1) MECHANICAL WAVES

Sound waves, surface waves
Wave interference (constructive and destructive)

(2) LIGHT (4 main properties)

Young experiment: interference of light waves (one, two slits)
Duality of light: waves and particles (photons)
Light as electromagnetic (EM) waves
EM spectrum (from gamma-rays to radio waves): color and frequency
Frequency and energy of EM radiation
Blackbody and blackbody radiation: blackbody curve, maximum wavelength, temperature, energy flux
Wien's law (lambda-max=0.3/T): temperature and color of EM radiation
Boltzmann's law (E = sigma T^4): temperature and energy flux of EM radiation)

(3) INVERSE SQUARE LAW (1/r^2)

Brightness and luminosity
Measuring stellar luminosities
Examples: stellar sizes
Examples: inferring stellar sizes, luminosities and distances

Last updated: January 27, 2005