There is a whole range of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) being emitted, absorbed, reflected, and transmitted through the various places that make up our environment. Whether its outdoors in a natural setting or inside in a human designed environment, EMR can be detected in a variety of ways.
Your Task: Your team has been assigned the task of investigating the EMR spectrum in your immediate environment. Using a 1 m3 space of your choice, or assigned by your teacher, your team will use the three portions of the EMR to map your space, contrast and combine the information from each portion of the spectrum, and present your findings to the class.
To complete this task, you will need to:
- Collect data from the visual, ultraviolet (UV), and infrared (IR) portions of the spectrum in your identified or assigned space. Available detectors include your eyes, hands, thermometers, spectroscopes, and UV beads (see note).
- Make a map of the entire space from each portion of the visual, UV, and IR spectrum. The maps may include words, diagrams, symbols or a combination of some or all of these. It must be clear whether the objects in your space were emitting, reflecting, transmitting, or absorbing the different types of radiation.
- Organize your data in chart(s) or other formats that help contrast and combine the information from your map.
- Make an oral presentation that includes your data collection methods, and what you found out about your space based on your data and your knowledge of EMR. Your explanation should make it easy for another team to duplicate your work.