How does Infrared Light Fit in the Electromagnetic Spectrum?
Now that we know infrared light is a part of sunlight, we need to ask what infrared is. To do this, we need to examine sunlight in greater detail. At this time, it would be a good idea to make sure that your students know scientific notation, because light energy is measured in wavelengths. Stress that it’s a good way to write large and small numbers. A decimal is placed between the first two significant digits and the skipped places counted. The count is negative for numbers less than one and positive for those larger than one. The final form is written with the significant digits multiplied by a power of ten. The power is the integer count of the skipped places. Examples: 8,120,000,000,000,000 = 8.12 x 1015 .0000000000231 = 2.31 x 10-11 Break the class up into groups and distribute the “Catch Waves” Student Organizer. Have the groups go to the Space Telescope Science Institute Web site at (http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/light/CatchWaves_activation-frames.html) to examine sunlight in
