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Re: RE Another student question



When we discuss the red shift it is usually based on diffraction. It is
diffraction and not our eyes that is wavelength dependent. We can record
diffraction patterns monochromatically if we want to. Also, when we see
light that has been red shifted to a longer wavelength c is still f*lambda
so f is shifted too.

To answer the question of whether our eyes are sensitive to freq or wave
length you have to change one without changing the other. This you might think
you could do by going under water, but before you see the light it goes into
your eye where the wave length is shifted to the appropriate value for the
original freq and the speed of light in your eye. Within a given medium
freq and wavelength just are not independent variables.

On Fri, 14 Nov 1997 17:57:14 -0500 David Abineri said:
While on the subject of light frequence/wavelength, how does one answer
the question as to whether wavelength or frequency determines coolor?

When we discuss red shift, we are assuming that wavelength determines
color. Our eyes then are somehow wavelength sensitive rather than
frequency sensitive?

I hope some one can clarify this for me. Thanks
--
David Abineri dabineri@dot-net.net