• Light and matter

Light and matter

Try a quiz to check your knowledge of light and matter. Matter — what is it? There is more to matter than atoms. Rutherford1 could have had no idea what he had started when he bombarded gold foil with alpha particles to discover the ‘nucleus’ and changed the understanding of the atom. Particle accelerators have opened a whole new understanding of matter. What is antimatter2? Read about CERN’s latest investigation into antihydrogen3. Explore particle physics4 to find out more about our current understanding of matter. What is the Standard Model5 of particles and forces? Nuclear science also adds to our understanding of matter. Refresh the basics6 of nuclear science. Watch a video7 about the role of ANSTO in nuclear research and servicing the radiopharmaceutical needs of Australia. Learn about the work of Professor Peter Holden at the National Deuteration Facility8. Deuterium is a special form of hydrogen that has been used to study the structure and function of proteins, DNA and some other polymers. Light — what is it? Throughout history9, scientists have been intrigued by the nature of light10— was light a wave or a stream of particles or maybe both? Leading scientific thinkers, including Newton11 and Einstein12, have contributed their theories. The concept of the photon13 resulted in the wave-particle duality of light becoming accepted. While the different forms of ‘light’ in the electromagnetic spectrum14 are well-recognised, the understanding of the nature of light is still open to debate15. Light16 is vital to life as we know it because of photosynthesis17. 18 ©Anton19 CC-BY-SA 3.020 Learn more about microscopes, telescopes and spectroscopy.

The past The future In space More physics resources Particle accelerators can analyse materials, using extremely small samples, to determine their elemental composition and age. At ANSTO, accelerated mass spectrometry can be used for carbon dating21 rock-art paintings and lake sediments. Particle accelerators can bring about high collision energy that can change matter and create new material. 22 Particle accelerators have taken on a whole new dimension with the completion of the Large Hadron Collider22 (above). The nature of the universe, including such concepts as mass and dark matter, continue to be researched. Learn more in an e-tour at the Atlas experiment23 website. Light is the basis of a lot of technology for the future. Artificial photosynthesis24 could be the solution to rising levels of carbon dioxide and a useful source of food and bioenergy. 25 Photovoltaics are widely used, but what about solar paint26 (printable and coatable organic solar cells made from semiconducting polymer nanoparticles)? Optical fibre27, employing photonics, is the basis of modern communication. Television technology has been vastly improved since the use of cathode ray tubes. The next step is the refinement of glasses-free28 3D television. Laser29 pulses may eventually change dentistry30 in research from the University of Sydney. Learn about how quantum computers31 have the potential to change technology. Nanotechnology32 also has the potential33 for massive impacts in medicine, agriculture and the environment34. Learn more about medical applications. Learn about the NASA Kepler mission35 to search for extrasolar planets. Herschel36 discovered infra red light in 1800. We observe space with more than just visible light. 37 Learn38 about different types of telescopes and how we use them to see great distances and effectively look back in time. The Doppler Effect39 has been used to establish relative movement in space and the expansion of the universe. Carbon nanotubes40 have taken on an unusual use— suppressing the reflection of light in space instruments. 41 A resource41 for the preliminary course of HSC physics on concept areas of the inverse square law, reflection and refraction of light and other types of electromagnetic radiation, as well as satellite navigation. View or download42 the resource. 43 Physics Explorer43 can be used to demonstrate often poorly understood or difficult to demonstrate concepts in electromagnetic induction, cathode ray tube development and superconductivity. View or download44 the resource. 45 Forces and Fields45 is a Creative Commons licensed resource with in-depth and varied interactive activities in the areas of electric, magnetic and gravitational forces and fields in 10 individual sections. View or download46 the resource. 47 Interested in Science and in year 11 or 12? Find out about the 2011 International Science School47. It could change your life! See also Sites2See: Nobel Prize Physics48. 49 50

Links

1. http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/R/Rutherfords_experiment_and_atomic_model.html
2. http://livefromcern.web.cern.ch/livefromcern/antimatter/academy/AM-travel00.html
3. http://press.web.cern.ch/press/PressReleases/Releases2002/PR13.02EATRAP.html
4. http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/Research/MinChall-en.html
5. http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/Science/StandardModel-en.html
6. http://www.lbl.gov/abc/Basic.html
7. http://www.ansto.gov.au/discovering_ansto/publications_audio_video_and_images/videos
8. http://www.ansto.gov.au/research/bragg_institute/facilities/molecular_deuteration
9. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0859284.html
10. http://astronomyonline.org/Science/NatureOfLight.asp?Cate=Home&SubCate=MP01&SubCate2=MP040108
11. http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/lightexperiments.html
12. http://library.thinkquest.org/22601/advanced/einstein.html
13. http://physics.about.com/od/lightoptics/f/photon.htm
14. http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.html
15. http://lighttheory.com/light/abstract.htm
16. http://library.thinkquest.org/28160/english/index.html
17. http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Courses/Bio104/photosyn.htm
18. http://www.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/smprimer/aa/aa.html
19. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Anton
20. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
21. http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/secondary/science/downloads/movies/jacobsenp.html
22. http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/LHC/LHC-en.html
23. http://www.atlas.ch/etours.html
24. http://www.alternativeenergyprimer.com/Artificial-Photosynthesis.html
25. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nellis_AFB_Solar_panels.jpg
26. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s3008638.htm
27. http://www.questacon.edu.au/indepth/photonics/
28. http://www.fox10tv.com/dpps/entertainment/consumer_tech/toshiba-unveils-glasses-free-3-d-tv-wd10-jgr_3602919
29. http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/lasers/index.html
30. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/08/24/2665129.htm
31. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077363/
32. http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm
33. http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/secondary/science/downloads/evolution/roberson.htm
34. http://velocity.ansto.gov.au/velocity/ans0010/article_03.asp
35. http://cheller.phy.georgiasouthern.edu/gears/Units/2010%20Workshop/Kepler/Intro-Kepler-Activity.html
36. http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/classroom_activities/herschel_experiment.html
37. http://hubble.nasa.gov/
38. http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/multiwavelength_astronomy/multiwavelength_astronomy/observing.html
39. http://www.anu.edu.au/Physics/Savage/TEE/site/tee/learning/doppler/doppler.html
40. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/new-nano.html
41. http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Cli/Download.aspx?resID=6165&v=1&preview=true&target=PUBLIC
42. http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Cli/ResourceInfo.aspx?resID=6165&v=1
43. http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Cli/Download.aspx?resID=4786&v=1&preview=true&target=PUBLIC
44. http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Cli/ResourceInfo.aspx?resID=4786&v=1
45. http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Cli/Download.aspx?resID=8459&v=1&preview=true&target=PUBLIC
46. http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Cli/ResourceInfo.aspx?resID=8459&v=1
47. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/foundation/iss/iss.shtml
48. http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Cli/Download.aspx?resID=6447&v=1&preview=true&target=PUBLIC
49. http://www.delicious.com/CLIsites2see/Light_and_matter
50. http://www.curls.edu.au/search.php/all/