Properties of Light

Wavelengths
short wavelengths

10^-15 m   gamm radiation 10^-8 m   ultraviolet light 10^-7 m   visible (purple) 10^-6 m   visible (red) 10^-5 m   infrared 10^-1 m   microwaves 1 m - 10^5 m   radio waves

long wavelengths

Facts

 * Some materials are transparent and some are not

Hypothesis
Non-transparent materials are composed of chaotic "flakes", ehich doesn't allow light to pass through. Light waves are absorbed by a material, when they hit atoms of that material. Transparent materials are structured, so that light easily passes through.

Indication of Flaw in Hypothesis
Water is transparent, but seems to be as compact as possible

Information Contradicting Hypothesis
HS: atoms (fx in a salt crystal) are placed without spaces. there is no extra space through which light can pass.

- see http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/visual.htm

Redshift
Redshift = doppler effect on waves in the electromagnetic spectrum sent from sources moving away from the observer