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Maija,

Paul Orselli's suggestion of an ordinary video camera looking at an  
infrared remote control is an excellent way to see near-infrared —  
wavelengths that are just below visible red.  But longer wavelengths  
— the ones visible to those wonderful, but unfortunately very  
expensive heat imaging cameras sometimes seen in exhibits — can  
actually be sensed directly by our bare skin.  The face is  
particularly sensitive — hold a warm object a few inches away, and  
you can sense its radiation immediately.  It's how I check whether my  
soldering iron is turned on.

If you want to explore the idea that light, even including infrared  
and ultraviolet, makes up only a part of the larger electromagnetic  
spectrum, here's a simple experiment.  You need an AM radio and a 9  
Volt battery.  In a dark room, use a screwdriver, a key,  or a short  
piece of wire to quickly short across the battery's terminals.   
You'll see tiny sparks each time the connection is broken — visible  
light. (Don't short out the battery for more than an instant, or it  
will drain quickly and get quite hot.)  Now turn on the radio, and  
tune it to a quiet spot between stations. Make some more sparks, and  
listen.  The energy released by each spark is actually spread across  
a wide spectrum, and simple wide-band spark gap transmitters were the  
first instruments used to explore the  hidden realms of "radio  
frequencies."

All the best,

Tom Nielsen
The Exhibit Guys Inc.


On Jul 13, 2006, at 3:00 PM, Maija Sedzielarz wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> Does anyone have a suggestion for a simple, inexpensive way to  
> demonstrate, or better yet, let kids experiment with, the idea that  
> light consists of wavelengths beyond visible light, i.e. infrared?
>
> Maija
> Maija Sedzielarz
> Coordinator, School Visit Programs
> Science Museum of Minnesota
> 120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
> St. Paul MN 55102
> 651-221-4554
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Explorations - gallery self-guides for teachers and students
> www.smm.org/explorations
>
> Experience the human body in all its complexity. Gunther von  
> Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies  
> is  at the Science Museum of Minnesota only through September 4.  
> Purchase tickets online at www.smm.org/bodyworlds or call (651)  
> 221-9444 for more information.
>
> ********************************************************************** 
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