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LogicalAcid
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Not be able to feel the heat from afar, only up close? And heat can take form in all kinds of radiation right? So why is it that infrared radiation is always used to describe heat?
We can see the light from a source from afar because light travels in straight lines and does not lose its intensity over long distances. This allows the light to reach our eyes and be detected, allowing us to see the source.
The distance at which we can see a light source depends on the brightness of the source and the sensitivity of our eyes. On a clear night, the human eye can see a candle flame from about 30 miles away, while the light from a lighthouse can be seen from over 20 miles away.
No, we cannot see light from all sources from afar. In order for us to see light from a source, it must emit electromagnetic radiation within the visible light spectrum. Some sources, such as infrared or ultraviolet light, are not visible to the human eye.
The light from a source may appear smaller from afar due to the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of light decreases as the distance from the source increases. This means that the same amount of light is spread over a larger area, making it appear smaller to our eyes.
Light travels through space as electromagnetic radiation in the form of waves. These waves do not require a medium to travel through, so they can travel through the vacuum of space. As the waves reach our eyes, they are detected by our retinas, allowing us to see the light from the distant source.