How to use Sound Waves Simulation
Start the simulation and then speak. The simulation will make waves depending on how loud you were.
July 27, 2014
Gamma Rays:
These waves are created by the most energetic objects in the Universe. These waves are called Gamma Rays. Gamma Rays are the size of a center of an atom. Scientists weren't able to detect gamma rays until high flying weather balloons and rockets carried instruments up beyond our atmosphere. Gamma Rays are dangerous to humans. They are formed on Earth from dangerous substances referred to as radioactive substances, nuclear explosions, and by lightning that strikes Earth. The Sun will sometimes release large amounts of energy from itself in an event called a Coronal Mass Ejection (or CME). These also release Gamma Rays. However, our Earth's atmosphere blocks these CMEs. These CME's can warn people on Earth of charged particles that could damage satellites and communications on Earth. These rays carry the most energy of an wave or ray. They are used to treat people who have cancer. It is hard for scientists to detect Gamma Rays. Scientists have used Gamma Rays to detect what the soil on Mars is made of, such as finding Hydrogen in Mars' soil. Gamma Rays come from stars, supernovae (exploding stars), black holes, and pulsars. NASA uses the FERMI satellite to detect Gamma Rays in space. Large bursts of Gamma Rays last only a few seconds, but show up brightly on FERMI's Gamma Ray map of our galaxy.
Gamma Rays:
These waves are created by the most energetic objects in the Universe. These waves are called Gamma Rays. Gamma Rays are the size of a center of an atom. Scientists weren't able to detect gamma rays until high flying weather balloons and rockets carried instruments up beyond our atmosphere. Gamma Rays are dangerous to humans. They are formed on Earth from dangerous substances referred to as radioactive substances, nuclear explosions, and by lightning that strikes Earth. The Sun will sometimes release large amounts of energy from itself in an event called a Coronal Mass Ejection (or CME). These also release Gamma Rays. However, our Earth's atmosphere blocks these CMEs. These CME's can warn people on Earth of charged particles that could damage satellites and communications on Earth. These rays carry the most energy of an wave or ray. They are used to treat people who have cancer. It is hard for scientists to detect Gamma Rays. Scientists have used Gamma Rays to detect what the soil on Mars is made of, such as finding Hydrogen in Mars' soil. Gamma Rays come from stars, supernovae (exploding stars), black holes, and pulsars. NASA uses the FERMI satellite to detect Gamma Rays in space. Large bursts of Gamma Rays last only a few seconds, but show up brightly on FERMI's Gamma Ray map of our galaxy.
July 19, 2014
X-Rays:
Doctors use these waves to examine their patients' bones to see if they are broken. This ray is called X-Rays. When a supernovae, or a dying star, explodes it releases X-Rays that fly across the universe. In 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered that X-Rays could be used create images of people's bones. Some X-Rays can be as small as an atom. X-Rays are also used in Labs to find what unknown materials are made of. This is how scientists discovered DNA. X-Rays also come from really hot objects in the Universe. X-Rays can also be used to find out how hot a star is. Most X-Rays come from objects with temperatures of millions of degrees such as pulsars, black holes, supernovae, and plasma in our Sun. Scientists use satellites to measure X-Rays. X-Rays can be used to find out what an object is made of, an object's temperature, how dense an object is, and if an object has a magnetic field.
X-Rays:
Doctors use these waves to examine their patients' bones to see if they are broken. This ray is called X-Rays. When a supernovae, or a dying star, explodes it releases X-Rays that fly across the universe. In 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered that X-Rays could be used create images of people's bones. Some X-Rays can be as small as an atom. X-Rays are also used in Labs to find what unknown materials are made of. This is how scientists discovered DNA. X-Rays also come from really hot objects in the Universe. X-Rays can also be used to find out how hot a star is. Most X-Rays come from objects with temperatures of millions of degrees such as pulsars, black holes, supernovae, and plasma in our Sun. Scientists use satellites to measure X-Rays. X-Rays can be used to find out what an object is made of, an object's temperature, how dense an object is, and if an object has a magnetic field.
July 13, 2014
Ultraviolet Waves:
This is the wave that is just beyond Visible Light, the wave of the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) that we can see. This wave is called Ultraviolet Waves. Ultraviolet Waves were discovered by Johann Ritter in 1801. There are 3 types of Ultraviolet (or UV) waves. These types are: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-A is the closest Ultraviolet Wave to Visible Light. Most UV-A waves reach the surface of the Earth. These are not harmful to our skin. UV-B waves are the type of Ultraviolet Waves that gives you sunburns. However, 95% of UV-B waves are blocked by our atmosphere. UV-C waves are the most harmful Ultraviolet waves. Luckily, almost all of this is absorbed by our atmosphere. What blocks most Ultraviolet waves is something in our atmosphere called the Ozone layer. This is a layer of an element called Ozone. It absorbs much of the harmful UV waves. Some satellites detect and measure Ultraviolet Waves to help scientists study our atmosphere. Many young stars shine most of their light as Ultraviolet Waves. Some atoms will interact with UV waves showing scientists the existence of certain elements in planets and stars.
Ultraviolet Waves:
This is the wave that is just beyond Visible Light, the wave of the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) that we can see. This wave is called Ultraviolet Waves. Ultraviolet Waves were discovered by Johann Ritter in 1801. There are 3 types of Ultraviolet (or UV) waves. These types are: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-A is the closest Ultraviolet Wave to Visible Light. Most UV-A waves reach the surface of the Earth. These are not harmful to our skin. UV-B waves are the type of Ultraviolet Waves that gives you sunburns. However, 95% of UV-B waves are blocked by our atmosphere. UV-C waves are the most harmful Ultraviolet waves. Luckily, almost all of this is absorbed by our atmosphere. What blocks most Ultraviolet waves is something in our atmosphere called the Ozone layer. This is a layer of an element called Ozone. It absorbs much of the harmful UV waves. Some satellites detect and measure Ultraviolet Waves to help scientists study our atmosphere. Many young stars shine most of their light as Ultraviolet Waves. Some atoms will interact with UV waves showing scientists the existence of certain elements in planets and stars.
July 6, 2014
Visible Light:
This is the light that you use to see everyday. Not surprisingly, this is Visible Light. This is the only light on the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) that you can see. The Sun's light appears to be white, however the Sun's light actually consists of all the colors you can see. This can be proved with 3D shape called a prism. As white light from the sun passes through it, it bends the light and makes a ray of light with all the different colors, which looks like a rainbow. Visible Light can be used to detect elements in distant planets, galaxies, and other deep-space objects. Human eyes can't detect these elements but scientific instruments can. Earth's atmosphere is blue because of Visible Light. When sunlight strikes Earth's atmosphere it encounters Oxygen and Nitrogen atoms that are just the right size to scatter and spread blue light. When an object heats up, it changes color. An example is a blue flame is hotter than a red flame. The same thing happens with stars. Are Sun is hot enough to look yellow. A cooler star would be orange or red. Hotter stars would be blue or light blue. Satellites that go around Earth, or orbit Earth, take pictures of Earth, sometimes in Visible Light. Visible Light can be combined with Infared Light to track the growth of cities. Space Telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope use Visible Light to see distant galaxies, stars, and nebula.
Visible Light:
This is the light that you use to see everyday. Not surprisingly, this is Visible Light. This is the only light on the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) that you can see. The Sun's light appears to be white, however the Sun's light actually consists of all the colors you can see. This can be proved with 3D shape called a prism. As white light from the sun passes through it, it bends the light and makes a ray of light with all the different colors, which looks like a rainbow. Visible Light can be used to detect elements in distant planets, galaxies, and other deep-space objects. Human eyes can't detect these elements but scientific instruments can. Earth's atmosphere is blue because of Visible Light. When sunlight strikes Earth's atmosphere it encounters Oxygen and Nitrogen atoms that are just the right size to scatter and spread blue light. When an object heats up, it changes color. An example is a blue flame is hotter than a red flame. The same thing happens with stars. Are Sun is hot enough to look yellow. A cooler star would be orange or red. Hotter stars would be blue or light blue. Satellites that go around Earth, or orbit Earth, take pictures of Earth, sometimes in Visible Light. Visible Light can be combined with Infared Light to track the growth of cities. Space Telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope use Visible Light to see distant galaxies, stars, and nebula.
March 22, 2014
Infared Light:
When you switch to your favorite channel on your TV you are using infared Light. Infared Light is the size of a tip of a pin. Some objects are hot enough, like a fire, also make visible light, light visible to humans. Humans also produce infared light. Some sensors pick up infared by showing how hot or cold it is. The lighter the color, the hotter the object, and the darker the color, the colder the object. Infared light can also be used to explore different parts of our galaxy that are surrounded in thick clouds of dust. When infared light comes from the sun, some bounces off the clouds on Earth and some go through the clouds, heating up the Earth's atmosphere. Some infared light is called near infared. This infared light is used to examine how healthy forests and other plants are.
Infared Light:
When you switch to your favorite channel on your TV you are using infared Light. Infared Light is the size of a tip of a pin. Some objects are hot enough, like a fire, also make visible light, light visible to humans. Humans also produce infared light. Some sensors pick up infared by showing how hot or cold it is. The lighter the color, the hotter the object, and the darker the color, the colder the object. Infared light can also be used to explore different parts of our galaxy that are surrounded in thick clouds of dust. When infared light comes from the sun, some bounces off the clouds on Earth and some go through the clouds, heating up the Earth's atmosphere. Some infared light is called near infared. This infared light is used to examine how healthy forests and other plants are.
March 22, 2014
Microwaves:
You use these waves to cook food, send phone calls, texts, and catch speeding cars on the road. What could this wave be? This wave is called microwaves! These are one of the longest waves on the EMS, ranging from 30 cm. (about 1 foot) down to 1 millimeter (about 0.05 inches). When you go to your weather TV station, you will see what the weathermen call your Doppler Radar. This uses microwaves (Not the one you cook food with!) to provide forecasts such as if there will be rain or snow. Satellites also use microwaves to forecast and track weather patterns. One type of microwave can go through rain, clouds, snow, and other weather conditions. These microwaves are called C bands. Some microwaves are used to see through the thick leaves of the rain forest to see where trees are being cut down. This type of microwaves is also used by GPS to track where on Earth you are. These are L bands. Microwaves are also used to examine exploded stars called supernovae.
Microwaves:
You use these waves to cook food, send phone calls, texts, and catch speeding cars on the road. What could this wave be? This wave is called microwaves! These are one of the longest waves on the EMS, ranging from 30 cm. (about 1 foot) down to 1 millimeter (about 0.05 inches). When you go to your weather TV station, you will see what the weathermen call your Doppler Radar. This uses microwaves (Not the one you cook food with!) to provide forecasts such as if there will be rain or snow. Satellites also use microwaves to forecast and track weather patterns. One type of microwave can go through rain, clouds, snow, and other weather conditions. These microwaves are called C bands. Some microwaves are used to see through the thick leaves of the rain forest to see where trees are being cut down. This type of microwaves is also used by GPS to track where on Earth you are. These are L bands. Microwaves are also used to examine exploded stars called supernovae.
February 15, 2014
Radio Waves:
You often use these waves to listen to music on the radio. They are called Radio Waves (No surprise there!). These waves are the longest waves in the EMS, measuring about the length of a water bottle up to waves larger than the diameter of Earth. Stars and other objects in space release these radio waves. Astronomers, people who study space, use giant radio receivers, or dishes, to detect these weak waves. In Puerto Rico the Arecibo Dish, longer than 3 football fields, detects these radio waves. Sometimes, the receivers will be spread across a wide area to act as one giant receiver. Pulsars, or dead stars that rotate and Plasma Clouds that consist of hot gases, were discovered using radio waves. Radio waves are used in entertainment, communications, and science.
Radio Waves:
You often use these waves to listen to music on the radio. They are called Radio Waves (No surprise there!). These waves are the longest waves in the EMS, measuring about the length of a water bottle up to waves larger than the diameter of Earth. Stars and other objects in space release these radio waves. Astronomers, people who study space, use giant radio receivers, or dishes, to detect these weak waves. In Puerto Rico the Arecibo Dish, longer than 3 football fields, detects these radio waves. Sometimes, the receivers will be spread across a wide area to act as one giant receiver. Pulsars, or dead stars that rotate and Plasma Clouds that consist of hot gases, were discovered using radio waves. Radio waves are used in entertainment, communications, and science.
February 15, 2014
Intro to Waves and Rays:
Welcome to Waves and Rays! Everyday we use these waves and rays, and you can't even see most of them! Another word used to describe these waves and rays is called the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS for short). The only waves you can see are visible light waves. These waves are what give color to what we see. These waves are like the waves in the ocean. They have crests, or top parts, and troughs, or bottom parts. The distance between two of those crests or troughs is called a wavelength. some wavelengths are meters long, but most are measured in nanometers, or billionths of a meter. This February and March, I will write about all the diffrent waves we use everyday in the EMS.
Intro to Waves and Rays:
Welcome to Waves and Rays! Everyday we use these waves and rays, and you can't even see most of them! Another word used to describe these waves and rays is called the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS for short). The only waves you can see are visible light waves. These waves are what give color to what we see. These waves are like the waves in the ocean. They have crests, or top parts, and troughs, or bottom parts. The distance between two of those crests or troughs is called a wavelength. some wavelengths are meters long, but most are measured in nanometers, or billionths of a meter. This February and March, I will write about all the diffrent waves we use everyday in the EMS.