Friday, July 11, 2014

Understanding Optical Tools

By Carey Bourdier


Because the human eye is limited in its visual capacity, man has invented many instruments to help us see objects that are either extremely small, are far away or to help us analyze the properties of various objects. These optical types of instruments are essential tools for many occupations, from medicine to computer science.

There are many types of instruments that allow us to view items, and not just those that are small or far away. These instruments are often called scopes, which comes from a Greek word that basically means "to look." There are many types of scopes, such as the immense radio and optical telescopes used to view objects and record signals from space, as well as a host of different microscopes. Scopes, such as fluoroscope, allow us to look inside of an object that we normally would have no easy access to, such as the internal human body.

In addition to the optical items that are implemented to help one see something at a great distant or perhaps something microscopic, there are optical inventions that help us analyze objects and measure their degree, quantity or rate. Each of these devices has been created to analyze something extremely specific and can help make up for our visual deficiencies.

Because the human eye can only see certain types of light and certain colors, we have created machines to help us look at or study different types of signals, such as radio waves and electrical signals. Our eyes can view light within what is known as the visible spectrum, but for humans, there is a vast non-visible spectrum that includes everything from radio waves to x-rays to ultraviolet light and infrared light. Instruments such as oscilloscopes help diagnose malfunctions in electronic equipment, such as computers, circuitry or even automobiles.

Measuring the intensity of light is important in many different fields, such as the field of photography. This type of measurement is known as photometry, and the device used is called a photometer. But photometers also are used by engineers to determine what type of lighting needs to be installed in buildings, homes and even parking lots. Astronomers study the intensity and illumination of celestial objects, such as stars, using sophisticated types of photometers as well.

Other interesting optical inventions include alignment telescopes, which allow highly precise measurements in two directions that are perpendicular to one's line of sight. These alignment telescopes are highly important whenever someone needs extremely accurate dimensional data.




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