Multi-Wavelength Light Adler Planetarium

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Multi-Wavelength LightAdler Planetarium

• Nathan Hearn

November 30, 2007
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Goals

• Gauge level of public understanding about
  non-visible light
• Can public draw conclusions about the state of an
  object using visible and non-visible information?

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These images show the same object. Can you
describe what is shown in each image? What does
the bottom image tell us?
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These images show the same object. Can you
describe what is shown in each image? Why can
you see the bones in the bottom image but not in
the top one?
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Sample

• size N 49
• ages range 5 to 65
• diversity
• male and female
• mostly families with young children, couples

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Recognition
Sample size 49
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Higher Understanding

• Difficult to determine whether the public
  associated x-ray and IR with light.
• IR questions were inconclusive
• X-ray 63 of sample understood that x-rays
  penetrate the skin. At least 14 of sample knew
  that visible light does not penetrate the skin.

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Our Experiences

• Objects (hairdryer, hand) were easily recognized
• People quickly understood that IR shows heat
• Could be due to a suggestive color table (hot
  red, cold blue)
• Wording of questions is crucial
• Is hair dryer on? vs. Is hair dryer on or
  off?
• People comfortable comparing x-rays to light

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Future Work

• More time needed to develop questions
• Questions need to be more specific
• More ways to categorize responses
• Difficult to determine whether public is aware of
  different types of light.