Win a $15 GC: Light, Dark, and the Electromagnetic Spectrum by Scott Benjamin Gracie

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Since the dawn of time, electromagnetic energy has permeated through the universe, surrounding and interacting with everything it touches, illuminating, destroying and giving life.

The colourful section of the electromagnetic spectrum we see in the form of visible light, rainbows and other phenomena is tiny when compared to its vast entirety. Using many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum have become common everyday occurrence for the majority of people on Earth, as it's been integrated into our lives in ways that we don't even think twice about it.

This book illuminates many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and its effects, the endless ways we have harnessed its energy, and how we interact and live with its influence.

Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt

How We Create Visible Light – Artificial Lighting

All the artificial lighting methods we have today require means by which light is produced. Whether it be a table lamp, a downlight, a streetlight, or the headlights and blinkers of a car, there is a part of the light fitting that produces light. Sometimes how light is produced is removable in the form of a globe or lamp. In some cases, the light-emitting part of the light fitting is integrated into the housing and can only be replaced by purchasing a whole new light fitting.

Either way, there are many different types of light sources that have evolved from very humble high- energy consuming devices right through to the versatile and energy-saving devices of today.

The Colours of Artificial Light

When it comes to some artificial light sources, manufacturers don’t only make the glass, plastic or electronics – they also make the colours that make the white light.

When it comes to incandescence, light is emitted through radiant energy. It’s as simple as the hotter the filament inside a lamp, the whiter the light. But when it comes to other types of lighting like fluorescent or LED, manufacturers add colours, phosphors or a combination of both to make white light.

Seeing the Colours of Light

The colours that light is made up of can easily be seen through an inexpensive spectroscope. You can even easily make one from common household items.

LEDs commonly use a mixture of separate red, green and blue. Higher-output LEDs often use ultraviolet light to excite phosphors, which emit white light. This is also similar to fluorescent tubes that use invisible ultraviolet light to excite phosphors. However, the phosphors of fluorescent tubes are specific, separately added powders and can be seen in the spectroscope image below right.

Sunlight LED Light Fluorescent Light

About the Author:

Scott's passion for light and the electromagnetic spectrum began in his early teens while tinkering with electronics as a hobby. He was formally introduced to the lighting industry while studying Electrical and Electronics in Sydney, Australia, and in 1998 he started his career making custom light fittings and lamps in his dad's garage. Formal lighting design qualifications expanded his opportunity to help project-manage and design on many industry levels.

Twenty-two years on, and Scott has worked on many major infrastructure, commercial and architectural lighting projects. He is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia & New Zealand, the Colour Society of Australia, the International Dark Sky Association and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

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