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Explorations: Stars, Galaxies, and Planets
Thomas Arny, University of Massachusetts

Light and Atoms

Problem Solving



1

Given that the Sun is 150 million kilometers from the Earth, how long does it take light to travel from the Earth to the Sun?
2

Suppose you are operating a remote-controlled spacecraft on Mars from a station here on Earth. How long will it take the craft to respond to your command if Mars is at its nearest point to Earth? You will need to look up a few numbers here.
3

Sketch an atom emitting light. Does the electron end up in a higher or lower orbit? Repeat for an atom absorbing light.
4

A lightbulb radiates most strongly at a wavelength of about 3000 nano-meters. How hot is its filament?
5

An electric stove burner on "high" radiates most strongly at about 2000 nanometers. What is its temperature?
6

The Earth's temperature averaged over the year is about 300 Kelvin. At what wavelength does it radiate most strongly? What part of the electromagnetic spectrum does this wavelength lie in? Can you see it?