| | An angstrom (symbol ''Å'') is a unit of [[length]] equivalent to one ten-billionth of a meter (1×10<sup>−10</sup> m). Unit is named after Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström. | | An angstrom (symbol ''Å'') is a unit of [[length]] equivalent to one ten-billionth of a meter (1×10<sup>−10</sup> m). Unit is named after Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström. |
| − | Electromagnetic radiation travels in waves. Scientists use the length of the wave (the distance between peaks) to define the energy of the radiation. Astronomers measure this length in "angstroms," a unit of measure equal to 1 hundred-millionth of a centimeter. It's a convenient shorthand to avoid writing lots of zeroes when talking about the wavelengths of light. In everyday terms, a sheet of paper is approximately 1,000,000 angstroms thick. Visible light covers the range from 4,000 to 8,000 angstroms. [http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/universe/angstrom.html] | + | [[Electromagnetic radiation]] travels in waves. Scientists use the length of the wave (the distance between peaks) to define the energy of the radiation. Astronomers measure this length in "angstroms," a unit of measure equal to 1 hundred-millionth of a centimeter. It's a convenient shorthand to avoid writing lots of zeroes when talking about the wavelengths of light. In everyday terms, a sheet of paper is approximately 1,000,000 angstroms thick. Visible light covers the range from 4,000 to 8,000 angstroms. [http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/universe/angstrom.html] |