2023-05-16 10:51:00
May 16 of each year commemorates the international day of light, a celebration established by UNESCO. This date is dedicated to understanding the relevance of the progress and contributions of light in all areas and aspects of human existence.
From radio waves to gamma rays, the spectrum of light provides us with valuable information about the beginning of the universe, as well as technologies in fields as varied as medicine, agriculture, and energy. In addition to the preservation of cultural heritage.
In addition, light has had a noticeable impact on the visual and performing arts, literature, and philosophy.
THE ORIGINS OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
Human beings have been surrounded by natural sources of light since the beginning of time. However, little by little he was able to produce his own light, in addition to unraveling its mysteries.
Oil lamp and candle have been used since ancient times. The gas lantern became popular in the 19th century. The incandescent lamp, which is commonly associated with artificial light, was developed in its modern form by Thomas Alva Edison in 1879.
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But, if well Michael Faraday he did not invent light, his work on electromagnetism was crucial to the development of the incandescent lamp and other electrical technologies. Faraday is known for discovering electromagnetic induction in 1831, which is the basis for the operation of many electrical and electronic devices, including motors, generators, and transformers.
THE THEORY
Various scientists and philosophers throughout history have contributed to our understanding of the phenomenon of light, including Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell.
According to Newton, light consisted of particles, or corpuscles, moving in straight lines. This theory explained the reflection and refraction of light well, but had difficulty explaining other phenomena, such as interference and diffraction.
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In the XIX century, Thomas Young y Augustin-Jean Fresnel They proposed that light behaved like a wave, not like a particle. This theory explained phenomena such as interference and diffraction, where light exhibits superposition properties, similar to waves in water.
James Clerk Maxwell united the theories of electricity and magnetism to form the theory of electromagnetism in the 19th century. He proposed that light was an electromagnetic wave, a disturbance in the electric and magnetic fields that propagated through space. Fundamental to modern physics, Maxwell’s equations describe how electricity and magnetism work, as well as how light travels.
THE QUANTUM
At the beginning of the 20th century, Albert Einstein y Max Planck they introduced quantum theory, which describes light as discrete particles called “photons”. Each photon has a specific amount of energy related to the frequency of light. This theory explained phenomena such as the photoelectric effect, where light can free electrons from a material.
Thus, in modern physics, light is understood to have a wave-particle duality, where it can behave as either a wave or a particle, depending on the circumstances. This is one of the fundamental characteristics of quantum mechanics.
TYPES OF LIGHT
Light can be classified into several types based on its wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum. Here are the main types of light that exist:
Gamma rays: They have the shortest wavelengths and highest energies in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are produced by high-energy cosmic events and by certain types of radioactive decay.
X-rays: They have longer wavelengths than gamma rays. They are used in medicine for internal imaging of the body and in astronomy to study high energy phenomena.
Ultraviolet (UV) light: It has longer wavelengths than X-rays. It is responsible for tanning and sunburn on the skin. Some insects and birds can see UV light.
visible light: It is the light that can be detected by human eyes. It is divided into the colors of the rainbow, from red (longer wavelengths) to violet (shorter wavelengths).
Infrared (IR) light: Has wavelengths longer than visible light. It is emitted by hot objects and is used in technologies such as remote controls and thermography.
microwave: They have longer wavelengths than infrared light. They are used in the technology of mobile phones and microwave ovens.
radio waves: They have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are used in broadcasting, satellite communication and radar.
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Each type of light has unique properties and uses in science and technology. However, all of these are actually the same thing (electromagnetic waves) and only differ in their energy and wavelength. This is how omnipresent and multifaceted is the mysterious light that helps us to probe the secrets of the universe and, also, the closest reality.
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