Why visible light

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Black is the absence of the visible light spectrum wavelengths. Everything in a dark room appears black because there is no visible light to strike your eye as you gaze at the surrounding objects. Blue light, or blue-violet light, has shorter wavelengths and more energy than any other visible light.

While blue light helps regulate circadian rhythm and boost memory and cognitive function, excessive exposure can lead to digital eye strain, retina damage, and age-related macular degeneration. A comprehensive eye exam with an eyecare professional can help you find the right lenses. The human eye can only see visible light, but light comes in many other "colors"—radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray—that are invisible to the naked eye.

On one end of the spectrum there is infrared light, which, while too red for humans to see, is all around us and even emitted from our bodies. Warm-blooded animals, including humans, radiate infrared light. That's why infrared cameras are helpful for thermal imaging and night vision when searching for people or animals. On the other end of the spectrum there is X-ray light, which is too blue for humans to see.

X-rays are another common light source that many of us have encountered at a doctor's office. X-rays can penetrate skin and muscles, allowing doctors to look at our bones. Visible Light. Retrieved [insert date - e. Science Mission Directorate. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. What is the visible light spectrum? Left Isaac Newton's experiment in showed that a prism bends visible light andthat each color refracts at a slightly different angle depending on the wavelength of the color.

Credit: Troy Benesch. Right Each color in a rainbow corresponds to a different wavelength of electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic Spectrum Series Series Homepage. Infrared Waves. Reflected Near-Infrared. Ultraviolet Waves.

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