Activity 1: Visible Light and Infrared Radiation

Materials:   (per group)

Prism, lamp or sunlight, three thermometers, lab hand-out, pen or pencil

About this Activity:

This activity involves a laboratory investigation for students to perform. In this investigation students will be determining the existence of infrared radiation through Herschel's experiment.

SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL: English astronomer whose extensive observations founded the science of galactic structure. He discovered the planet Uranus, over 2,500 star clusters and nebulae, and over 800 double stars. He inferred the existence of infrared rays by measuring heat generated by solar radiation at various points of the spectrum and finding a maximum where no radiation was visible.

Procedure:

  1. Discuss what makes up visible light.

  2. As a review use a prism to show the colors that make up the visible spectrum. (See The Electromagnetic Spectrum lesson plan). Discuss the wavelengths in relation to their colors.

  3. Divide students in groups of four.

  4. Pass out lab hand-out and have the materials ready at their lab tables.

  5. Give the directions for the lab. You may want to give more guidance to lower grade levels and certain abilities of students.

  6. Have students begin the laboratory activity.

  7. After the lab, explain that visible light rays and infrared rays are generally transmitted through the Earth's atmosphere. These are the wavelengths that are regions of high transmittance, called "atmospheric windows," in which are the areas where remote sensing data can be acquired. Discuss the concept of remote sensing.

  8. As a review from the lab, ask students to describe the relationship they found between infrared radiation and visible light.
Lab Handout: Visible Light and Infrared Radiation
No Frames Table of Contents

[LMGFP home page] Contact Karen Krupinsky (kgurley@gsfc.nasa.gov) or
Tammy Seergae (tseergae@umd.edu) for further information.