Light emitted by astronomical bodies is one of the major clues found in the vast universe. With light, astronomers and astrophysicists can see beyond the stunning brilliance of the celestial bodies found in our galaxy. The Sun is probably one of the most brilliant celestial bodies that we have seen and the nearest to Earth. The Sun emits light in epic proportions and supports life here on Earth. The Sun has a photosphere – a region where the light received [...]

Polarization refers to that property of electromagnetic waves (like light and gravity) that characterizes the orientation of their movement to and from space. Electromagnetic waves possess a vector or three-dimensional nature which results in polarization. In astronomy, great importance is placed on studying polarized electromagnetic radiations from outer space.

A shock wave is a type of disturbance propagating outward. Just like any ordinary wave, it carries with it energy that spreads out through solid, liquid, or gas mediums. In some cases, shockwaves can also spread out without those mediums, but through specific fields like the electromagnetic field.

The Sun’s radiation emits tons and tons of energy. This energy is used up by living things to sustain life and survive. The Sun’s radiation is continuously being utilized as green and clean technology to supply electricity in remote areas and to save the environment by minimizing the production of greenhouse gases. With the Sun’s powerful heat, the term photovoltaic (PV) was coined, which refers to the generation of electrical power by converting the incoming radiation from the Sun into [...]

Radiation is a term overused by people who are fascinated and well-versed in the field of science. It can very well be considered a household term especially with the arrival of computers and mobile phones. People normally perceive radiation to be harmful; but little do they know that without radiation all things would cease to exist as the sun will stop giving off its heat through the process of radiation. So what really is this phenomenon?

Among the most dreaded subtopics in the complicated and mind-draining course of physics, which most students would rather avoid, is momentum. Imagine all the units of measures to memorize, not to mention formulas. However, whether people like it or not, momentum is very present in this world from the tiniest atoms to the largest celestial bodies.

Photo by: ESO Creative Commons What do Christian Doppler and Albert Einstein have in common? Simple, they are both instrumental in weather forecasting through their contributions to the information people know about radial velocity. Without understanding how radial velocity works, warnings about tornadoes and hurricanes are not possible.

When there is an enormous explosion in galaxies, there could be some flashes of gamma rays released. These flashes are called the gamma ray burst. In the universe, it is the most luminous event happening. The shortest periods a burst can last milliseconds. It can last up to several minutes as well. But the typical burst only lasts for a couple of seconds. It shines a hundred more times than a supernova and approximately a million trillion times brighter than [...]

Photo by: Zedh Creative Commons The small field found at the wide range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation is called visible light. It can be discerned by the naked eye and has wavelengths measured to be from 780 nanometers to 390 nanometers. Each wavelength has a particular color and when that specific wavelength hits one’s eyes, one perceives or identifies the color of that wavelength. For instance, what makes a green leaf green is because of the specific wavelength of [...]

Gamma ray is a electromagnetic radiation with a very short wavelength. It means, it is of high frequency. Gamma radiation is produced by interactions of sub atomic particles like fusion, fission, radioactive decay and electron-positron annihilation. Gamma rays can create great damage to living tissues since it is a type of ionizing radiation. You should be careful not to be hit with this radiation. There are different properties that govern gamma rays. These are shielding, matter interaction, light interaction and [...]