Have you ever wondered what comes from a supernova(when a star explodes at the end of its life) occurs, or a black hole? Well, one thing that does are gamma rays. Gamma rays are the highest form of energy that we know of on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Gamma rays are the most energetic form of light, that has been detected. They are about the size of an atomic nucleus. The frequency range for gamma rays is greater than 10^20 Hz. The wavelength range of gamma rays is less than 10^-12 m. Gamma rays aren't visible, considering they are about the size of a nucleus of an atom, but we are able to gain knowledge about what they look like and do from the Fermi Ga
mma-Ray Space Telescope. This telescope has helped us learn new information about supernovae, black holes, pulsars, and neutron stars, all of which involve gamma rays.
Image via: The Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Gamma rays are extremely dangerous, and can kill humans. Luckily, our atmosphere is able to deflect the rays, so they don't enter the earth. Gamma-Ray bursts can release more energy in 10 seconds, than the sun will emit in its entire life-time. We're not sure where they come from yet, but they are very powerful.
Images:
http://www.colourtherapyhealing.com/colour/electromagnetic_spectrum.php
http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/gamma-ray_burst.html
Sources:
“Gamma Rays.” EPA. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2010.
“Gamma-Rays.” Hyper Physics. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2010.
“Gamma Rays.” NASA. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2010.
8 comments:
Well I like the picture that explains how a gamma ray telescope works but it would have been nice if you explained it in greater detail. Good job though!
Nice job on your blog. I liked the picture about the gamma rays, it was interesting to look at. How do we know gamma rays are so dangerous if we deflect them?
Nice work. I liked the diagram that explained the whole gamma rays and sun thing, and I like how informative it was.
Also a great blog. The diagram at the top was very nice, like Laxrox said. It also interesting that they are as small as an atomic nucleus! Thats so small!
I really like how the blog is short but reading some other blogs it seems as if you left out some stuff. But other than that I really liked the pictures, the helped explain a lot. Good job!
What other occurences are there that emit gamma radiation or is it just supernovas? also how is gamma radiation different from any other type of radiation like ultraviolet radiation except for the wavelength, frequency and energy? What effects on life?
Gamma rays are confusing to me but you did a good job at explaining what they were.
The pictures are perfect aids to your blog, but I'd like to know a little more about gamma rays and how they relate to us in real life. Good scientifc information.
Post a Comment