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What does the universe look like in color?

What does the universe look like in color?

What does the universe look like in color?

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this is a source of light. Examples may <strong>in</strong>clude fire, <strong>in</strong>candescent<br />

lights, fluorescent lights, <strong>the</strong> Sun, <strong>the</strong> stars, TV screens, those funny<br />

light sticks <strong>the</strong>y hand out at carnivals, lum<strong>in</strong>escent dials on watches<br />

and clocks, neon signs, bl<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g LED displays, fireflies and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

glow<strong>in</strong>g creatures, auroras, etc. A traffic light might not be accepted<br />

as a separate example, because <strong>the</strong> source is an ord<strong>in</strong>ary light bulb<br />

<strong>in</strong>side <strong>the</strong> device.<br />

Po<strong>in</strong>t out to students that although we see light <strong>in</strong>doors and out, <strong>the</strong>re<br />

are relatively few different sources of light. These few sources light<br />

our entire world, <strong>in</strong>doors and out.<br />

Which of <strong>the</strong> sources you named are hot?<br />

Go back through <strong>the</strong> class' list and have students identify which<br />

items are sources of light by virtue of be<strong>in</strong>g hot enough to glow.<br />

Examples <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> Sun, fire, a glow<strong>in</strong>g oven or hot coals,<br />

<strong>in</strong>candescent bulbs, and <strong>the</strong> stars (though we have no direct<br />

experience with <strong>the</strong> stars).<br />

Many of <strong>the</strong> light sources on <strong>the</strong> list are not hot. Examples are <strong>the</strong><br />

red and green lights (LEDs) <strong>in</strong> electronic equipment, <strong>the</strong> glow of TV<br />

screens, fluorescent bulbs, neon signs, auroras etc. These sources<br />

must produce light by some means o<strong>the</strong>r than be<strong>in</strong>g hot enough to<br />

glow.<br />

Is <strong>the</strong> Moon a source of light? Is <strong>the</strong> daytime sky a source of<br />

light?<br />

The Moon is bright enough to cast shadows at night, but is it <strong>the</strong><br />

source of light? Ask students whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> Moon gives off its own<br />

light, or merely reflects <strong>the</strong> light from some o<strong>the</strong>r source. This is a<br />

good opportunity to rem<strong>in</strong>d students that <strong>the</strong> Sun is <strong>the</strong> source of <strong>the</strong><br />

Moon's light; <strong>the</strong> moonlight we see is reflected light whose source is<br />

<strong>the</strong> Sun.

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