Activity 6 - The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Your Community

Use the resources listed below to help you complete this activity.

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

The Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation

The Electromagnetic Spectrum, NASA
This home page provides links to two different topic levels, the second slightly more advanced than the first. The topics for Level One include: Measuring the Electromagnetic Spectrum, A Radio Wave Is Not a Gamma-ray, a Microwave Is Not an X-ray... or Is It?, Why Do We Have to Go to Space to See All of the Electromagnetic Spectrum?. The topics for Level Two include: More about the Electromagnetic Spectrum, and Space Observatories in Different Regions of the EM Spectrum.

All About Spectra, University of Illinois
Try another brief overview on electromagnetic spectrum and electromagnetic wave radiation.

Astronomy and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

An Introduction to Radio Astronomy, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
The NRAO web site offers an education section with various resources including background information and a photo gallery. The Introduction to Radio Astronomy is particular page that offers answers to frequently asked questions about radio astronomy, an article about the VLA and VLBA in New Mexico, and more.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Offers a good description of important properties of the major regions of the spectrum.

Using Electromagnetic Radiation to Understand Celestial Objects

Amazing Space, Space Telescope Science Institute
Explore space with the Hubble Telescope. Learn about what different colors say about stars by clicking on Star Light, Star Bright.

 

To complete Investigate Part C, each student group will need:

To learn more about space science missions, visit the following web sites:

Space Science Missions, NASA
This is a comprehensive list of missions either under study, in development, operating, or past missions.

Historical Archive, NASA
This page includes a list of the manned missions from the earliest programs to the most recent.

 

Inquiring Further:

To learn more about using radio waves to study distant objects, visit the following web site:

Radar , Studyworld
Find out how scientists study distant objects using the VLA and radio waves.

To learn more about detection of electromagnetic radiation, visit the following web sites:

NRAO Press Releases, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Search through a list of different press releases about scientific discoveries and advancements made with a VLA.

The Very Large Array and the Very Long Baseline Array, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Read about the radio telescope arrays that allow scientists to look deep into space

To learn more about technologies that use electromagnetic radiation, visit the following web sites:

Invention of the Microwave
Learn more about the history and technology of the microwave oven.

How does an x-ray machine work? Howstuffworks
Get the answer.

Does the product emit radiation? Device Advice
Get some helpful definitions and insights into the pervasive nature of radiation-based technology.

Send all comments about this website to education@agiweb.org

Last updated: May 11, 2010

This project is supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation and the AGI Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.