Optics

Sony makes a variety of different camcorders that can be used for everything from shooting short videos for the Web to shooting full-length films. If you have a Macintosh computer you can transfer...

Microscopes are imaging aids that allow us to see detailed pictures of objects too small to be seen with the naked eye. These scientific instruments come in different power magnifications. Without...

Neodymium YAG is a type of crystal used as the primary lasing medium for certain high-power lasers. A lasing medium is the material through which a normal beam of light passes; as the beam exits...

Infrared is light that has a wavelength longer than visible red light. The ranges of infrared include near infrared, mid infrared and far infrared, spanning wavelengths from about 710 nanometers...

A light curtain is an array of photoelectric light that releases and receives modulated light beams used to detect the presence of a vehicle.

There are many different types of light bulbs available, so many that it can be confusing to choose the right light bulb for the job. However, the kind of bulb that is used can make a noticeable...

Valve trains are devices that are used to control the flow of air or liquid in and out of a closed system. Pressure regulators are a self-controlling form of valve train that control the flow of...

Fluorescent light bulbs are becoming more popular because they use less energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs. However, the negative effects of fluorescent bulbs must be understood...

Goniometer is an instrument that measures angles and allows for objects to be rotated to a particular angular position. In 1669, Niels Stensen identified a very important characteristic of...

The Olympus CKX line of inverted microscopes includes the CXK31 and CKX41 models. The CKX41 microscope is a specialized scientific microscope for checking cell viability in Petri dishes, culture...

8mm projectors have not been made for many years, and so those still in use have suffered from neglect and lack of care. This can make them work erratically when turned on and can damage the film...

As the world becomes increasingly concerned about energy resources, new and more energy-efficient technology is being developed and enhanced. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are an example. Lowering...

First, the laser diode is constructed. This is the portion which will actually radiate light once activated. A rectangular length of clean, inert plastic is prepared. Atop it is laid a series of...

The letters LED stand for Light Emitting Diode. The important thing to remember about LEDs is that they produce light when a current flows through them in only one direction. They do not work the...

We use lasers every day in supermarket checkout lines, CD players, and to transmit most telephone signals, medicine, industry, and defense. So lasers helped us in doing a lot of things. If you are...

Generated from the constructive interference of scattered light, holograms are three-dimensional representations of physical objects. To holographically capture an object, shine a primary light...

A theodolite is a tool for measuring vertical and horizontal angles. It is used in triangulation networks. It looks like a small telescope and is used everywhere from construction sites to highway...

LED is an acronym for light emitting diode. LED lights are used in many modern-day electronics, from flashlights to computers and many other items. These lights have become less expensive to...

Compound microscopes use two lenses to magnify a specimen, whereas light microscopes use only one lens. Another major difference between compound microscopes and light microscopes is their power...

Light microscopes, also known as optical microscopes, are fundamental magnification devices that have been used by the scientific community for over four centuries. The ultimate limit for a light...

The electron structure of the atom is very complex; discoveries concerning the physical properties of electrons and the chemical reactions that take place between them have led to countless...

Sighting in a rifle can be a tedious process, but with the proper preparation and technique it's not a difficult task.

Flashlights are designed to be portable sources of light for use both in the home and on the go. The bulbs used in flashlights vary, and there are three primary types of bulbs, including...

Alkaline is the adjectival form of the noun alkali and it refers to elements that have an oxidation number (the charge on the central atom) of +2. Alkali is an ionic, basic salt of an alkaline...

NiMH batteries can be recharged and used multiple times. These batteries are easy to charge at home with an NiMH battery charger. Learning to use the charger is simple and can be done in just a...

Digital watches can help you keep track of time, and additional features commonly found on digital watches, like alarms and chronographs, make digital watches all the more helpful. Learning to...

For years, pundits have used the rise of portable computing to predict the death of the written book. However, the high price of these so-called readers coupled with a lack of compatible reading...

Light radiates from its source randomly and equally in electromagnetic waves. Light polarization most often occurs because of reflection. Polarizing filters are used in photography and science to...

A diamond tester of several years' age is no match for today's variety of diamond simulants and synthetics, especially since those simulants have all the chemical properties of a real diamond. A...

Magnetism is a force that is created when objects are attracted or repelled by one another. A magnetic field is the area around a magnet. The larger the magnet and the closer an object is to the...

Barcodes are an easy way to track packages, manage inventory and define prices for thousands of items. Barcodes also provide a way to set up an automatic sorting system for businesses.

Those extra bright, blue hued headlights heading toward you on the highway are xenon bulbs. While far more expensive than regular halogen lamps, xenon headlamps in autos last up to three times...

Timex digital watches provide reliable time-keeping, as well as a host of other popular features such as an alarm and compass. Learning how to use a Timex digital watch is simple, leaving you time...

Infrared light is one of the most commonly discussed forms of light within the spectrum. At the most basic, infrared light is referred to as heat; it is a type of radiation, the wavelengths of...

What we call "light" is actually several small packets of energy called "photons." A photon can carry different amounts of energy, which causes the photon to vibrate at a certain frequency. These...

Words in the English language are often confused with each other, or incorrectly used interchangeably. "Magnification" and "resolution" are two words that really mean something quite different.

Canon and Nikon are both optical companies first. Canon formed in the United States in 1965, while Nikon formed as the merger of three optical companies in Japan, in 1917. Both companies make...

Wavelets are mathematical functions that are used to focus data into different frequency components, based on space and scaling. Essentially, it is the study of analysis according to scale. They...

A laser pointer is a small device that shines a distinct spot of light onto the surface of an aimed-at point. It is usually small enough to fit on a key chain. Sometimes a laser pointer has the...

Modern militaries of the world pride themselves on being on the cutting edge of technology, which allows them to conduct operations in all facets of warfare. One invention that has become a...

There are a number of factors that will affect the lifespan of batteries in a flashlight. These include what type of batteries they are (whether they're A, AA, AAA, or 9 volt), how big the...

Laser pointers that fit on your keychain are usually small and pack a low punch in nanometers, which is the distance you would be able to see the laser clearly in complete darkness. The average...

The resolution of a picture taken with a digital camera is typically represented by its megapixels. Unlike traditional photos, digital pictures are made up of thousands of tiny dots called pixels....

A flashlight's shaft houses its circuitry and power source. Batteries, both rechargeable and disposable, are used to power the flashlight's bulb. Power travels from the batteries, along a series...

Theater lighting is a very important part of theatrical productions. Different types of lighting work in specific ways to create the correct mood. If the wrong type of lighting is used, and the...

The Olympus E-420 was introduced in March 2008, a year after the launch of its sibling, the Olympus E-410. The digital cameras are similar single-lens reflex models (SLRs) capable of taking...

An LED is a light emitting diode that rests on a semiconductor material (aluminum gallium arsenide). The LED bulb has no filament, so it won't burn out like an incandescent light bulb. The...

Sony Vegas 6 is the sixth version of the company's popular video editing program. Vegas is used by both consumers for home movies as well as small companies and videographers who need an...

The ability to see through certain objects has long been a dream doctors, the military, and safe crackers. Thanks to one of the greatest inventions in medical history, the X-Ray Machine (or, more...

The use of hallucinogenic drugs in the 1960s and 70s gave birth to the idea of light shows. These shows used psychedelic effects to produce swirls of color and light that were intended to make a...