Physics 3 Flashcards
Parallax
the apparent shift in position of an object when its viewed from various angles
Luminous Body
emits light waves ex. sun
Illuminated Body
reflect light waves ex moon
Luminous Flux ( italicized P)
rate at which light is emitted from a source (unit lumens Lm)
Illuminance ( E)
the illuminance of a surface (Lm/m^2)
Candela
luminous intensity
Transparency
transmits light waves and you CAN see through it. ex glass, water, air
Translucent
transmits light but you CANNOT see through it. ex. lamp shade, shower doors, skin shower curtains
Opaque
light cannot pass through it (reflects off of or absorbs) ex. wall, books
Galileo (1564- 1642)
Made the first serious attompt to measure the speed of light
-took 2 lanterns about 1km apart and “flashed” each other (one lantern was flashed and the lantern flashed back upon seeing the first lantern)
- Galileo hoped to use the time interval btwn the flash of each lantern and the distance btwn lanterns, to calculate the speed of light
What was Galileo’s problem
- Problem: it didn’t work. said that the speed of light was infinite and couldn’t be calculated
- Not an accurate method: Human reaction time is too slow. Reaction time took longer than the time for light to travel this distance.
Measurement of time was not accurate enough
Olaus Roemer (1644 - 1710)
Danish astronomer
- tried to predict the eclipses of Jupiter’s moon (abt Jupiter)
-surprised to find out that the period of the eclipse, as he measured for one of the moons, was different at different times of tear.
- concluded that light has a finite speed (and that it was constant) and that the reason eclipse periods appeared to ching was bc:
Olaus Roemer concluded the reason eclipse periods appeared to change is bc:
- depending on the Earths distance from Jupiter, light needs more or less time to reach Earth from Jupiter
- difference between the two measured time periods is equal to the time it takes light to travel a distance appoximately equal to the diameter of the earths orbit
What was Olaus’ problem
Roemer didnt know how large the diameter of the Earths orbit was
Christian Huygens (approx same time as Roemer)
Dutch mathmatican/scientist
- Managed to figure ont the diameter of Earths orbit
- Used his data and Roemers data to calculate the speed of light
- difference between shortest and longest period Δt = 22 min (1320 s)