Author Question: Why does the Sun usually appear white to the human eye? How do stars that are cooler, hotter, and ... (Read 177 times)

genevieve1028

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 601
Why does the Sun usually appear white to the human eye? How do stars that are cooler, hotter, and about the same temperature compare to the Sun?
  What will be the ideal response?

Question 2

How does the human eye perceive light? What would happen if humans only had rod-type receptors?
  What will be the ideal response?



connor417

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 329
Answer to Question 1

ANSWER: Because the Sun radiates almost half of its energy as visible light, all visible wavelengths from the midday Sun reach the cones, and the Sun usually appears nearly white. A star that is cooler than our Sun radiates most of its energy at slightly longer wavelengths; therefore, it appears redder. On the other hand, a star much hotter than our Sun radiates more energy at shorter wavelengths and thus appears bluer. A star whose temperature is about the same as the Suns appears white.


Answer to Question 2

ANSWER: We perceive light because radiant energy from the Sun travels outward in the form of electromagnetic waves. When these waves reach the human eye, they stimulate antenna-like nerve endings in the retina. These antennae are of two typesrods and cones. The rods respond to all wavelengths of visible light and give us the ability to distinguish light from dark. If people possessed rod-type receptors only, then only black and white vision would be possible. The cones respond to specific wavelengths of visible light. Radiation with a wavelength between 0.4 and 0.7 micrometers (m) strikes the cones, which immediately fire an impulse through the nervous system to the brain, and we perceive this impulse as the sensation of color. (Color blindness is caused by missing or malfunctioning cones.) Wavelengths of radiation shorter than 0.4 m, or longer than 0.7 m, do not stimulate color vision in humans.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

The FDA recognizes 118 routes of administration.

Did you know?

Russia has the highest death rate from cardiovascular disease followed by the Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, and Poland.

Did you know?

Your skin wrinkles if you stay in the bathtub a long time because the outermost layer of skin (which consists of dead keratin) swells when it absorbs water. It is tightly attached to the skin below it, so it compensates for the increased area by wrinkling. This happens to the hands and feet because they have the thickest layer of dead keratin cells.

Did you know?

Asthma-like symptoms were first recorded about 3,500 years ago in Egypt. The first manuscript specifically written about asthma was in the year 1190, describing a condition characterized by sudden breathlessness. The treatments listed in this manuscript include chicken soup, herbs, and sexual abstinence.

Did you know?

Amphetamine poisoning can cause intravascular coagulation, circulatory collapse, rhabdomyolysis, ischemic colitis, acute psychosis, hyperthermia, respiratory distress syndrome, and pericarditis.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library