Am I Making Sense? - Color, Light & Photons Explained

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of color, light, and photons, exploring how photons are emitted and perceived in relation to energy levels of particles. It includes inquiries about the mechanisms of light emission and the role of energy from sources like the sun.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that color is related to the emission of photons at specific frequencies due to the energy applied by light sources, suggesting a connection between the energy of light and the quantized energy of particles.
  • Another participant expresses agreement and shares a similar inquiry about subatomic particles, indicating a shared interest in the topic of photons.
  • A different participant questions whether it is the heat or the light from the sun that causes photon emission, seeking clarification on the mechanism involved.
  • In response, another participant explains that the emission of photons is linked to electrons changing energy levels, suggesting that the energy of the electron is what excites the photon.
  • A moderator moves the thread to a more appropriate category, indicating that the discussion pertains to general physics rather than biology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the connection between energy and photon emission, but there are differing views on the specific mechanisms involved, particularly regarding the roles of heat and light from the sun.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on assumptions about the nature of energy transfer and the behavior of photons, which may not be fully explored or defined in the discussion.

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Am I making sense?

I'm a bit confused and want to clear this up. I haven't read this anywhere I'm just trying to put it together through what I know.

Color (light), is radiation of photons at certain frequencies within the visible light wavelenghts. The emission of the photons is due to the aplied energy of the sun (or light) on that certain object/particle, and the different frequencies (colors) of the emited photons is due to the specific quantized energy of each particle object/particle (different quantum numbers n).
In other words, a somewhat constant energy of light or heat mixed with a specific quantized energy of an atom, releases photons at different frequencies, making gold the yellowish color it is.

I have really no clue if I'm right with this, and I thought I'd ask you guys.
Am I making sense? LOL
 
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That does make sense. Actually, and I'm being completely honest, I sent an e-mail to one of my professors the other night saying the exact same thing you did, just in different words. I'm researching photons and such right now and am curious to know if you have any other thoughts on the other known subatomic particles. :biggrin:
 
Thanks ZeAsYn51, you I do have a similar question. When light is emitted (using the sun's energy), is it the heat that does the job, or the light of the sun?

Ty
 
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "get the job done", Ty. If you're asking what causes the photon to shoot out from the sun, it's just an electron that changed energy levels and "excited" (I guess you could say) the photon to move. The photon travels through space and collides with objects which causes illumination that is taken in by our eyes. The waves in which photons travel have both constructive and destructive interfereance, if they interact with other waves, and create different wavelengths of light. But to answer your question, it is simply the energy of the electron that excites the photon into action.
 
Am moving this to General Physics ... the questions are about light and colour in general (and the physics thereof, not the biology!)
 

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