Herschel infrared light experiments, artwork. In 1800, the British astronomer William Herschel (1738-1822) carried out a series of experiments that le
Herschel infrared light experiments, artwork. In 1800, the British astronomer William Herschel (1738-1822) carried out a series of experiments that led to his discovery of infrared light. Here, sunlight was split into its colour spectrum by refraction in a prism (top left). A lens (centre) is being used to focus the light on a thermometer (lower right). The hottest area was from the focusing of a light beyond visible red light, a light that became known as infrared radiation. This artwork (Plate XIV) is the seventh of ten illustrating the third of Herschel's four papers on this topic (read 15 May 1800), published in volume 90 of 'Philosophical Transactions' (Royal Society of London).
Size: 3709px × 4724px
Photo credit: © ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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