Robert W. Wood
The Scientist who Played with Optics
(June 17,2013)
References:
Masters, B. (2009, October). Robert W. Wood: The Scientist who Played with Optics. Retrieved from http://www.osaopn.org/ Home/articles/volume_20/issue_10/features/Robert_w_wood_ the_scientist_who_played_with_opti/#.Ub1kA2Qayc0
Anonymous. (2013, March 10). Robert W. Wood. Retrived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Wood
Robert William Woods was born in May 2, 1868 in Concord, Massachusetts. He was an American physicist and inventor. Because he became fascinated with the natural world, he decided to study optics instead of being a priest. One night, he saw a rare glowing aurora and he believed the effect was caused by visible rays; this motivated him to study and earn numerous degrees from Harvard, MIT and the University of Chicago. He then became a full-time professor of optical physics at Johns Hopkins University He wrote many articles on spectroscopy, phosphorescence and diffraction. He is best known for his work in ultra-violet light. Wood has been described as the "father of both infrared and ultraviolet photography" because of the discovery of electromagnetic radiation beyond the visible spectrum and the development of photographic emulsions. He was the first to intentionally produce photographs with both infrared and ultraviolet radiation. He also coined the slightly surreal glowing appearance of foliage in infrared photographs as “Wood effect”. He identified a very low ultraviolet reflectivity on the moon which he suggested was due to high sulphur. This area is called “Wood’s Spot”. In 1909, he constructed the first practical liquid mirror astronomical telescope, by spinning mercury to form a paraboloidal shape, and investigated its benefits and limitations. In 1903, he developed a filter that was opaque to visible light but transparent to both ultraviolet and infrared. This filter is called “Wood’s glass”. It is used
(June 17,2013)
References:
Masters, B. (2009, October). Robert W. Wood: The Scientist who Played with Optics. Retrieved from http://www.osaopn.org/ Home/articles/volume_20/issue_10/features/Robert_w_wood_ the_scientist_who_played_with_opti/#.Ub1kA2Qayc0
Anonymous. (2013, March 10). Robert W. Wood. Retrived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Wood
Robert William Woods was born in May 2, 1868 in Concord, Massachusetts. He was an American physicist and inventor. Because he became fascinated with the natural world, he decided to study optics instead of being a priest. One night, he saw a rare glowing aurora and he believed the effect was caused by visible rays; this motivated him to study and earn numerous degrees from Harvard, MIT and the University of Chicago. He then became a full-time professor of optical physics at Johns Hopkins University He wrote many articles on spectroscopy, phosphorescence and diffraction. He is best known for his work in ultra-violet light. Wood has been described as the "father of both infrared and ultraviolet photography" because of the discovery of electromagnetic radiation beyond the visible spectrum and the development of photographic emulsions. He was the first to intentionally produce photographs with both infrared and ultraviolet radiation. He also coined the slightly surreal glowing appearance of foliage in infrared photographs as “Wood effect”. He identified a very low ultraviolet reflectivity on the moon which he suggested was due to high sulphur. This area is called “Wood’s Spot”. In 1909, he constructed the first practical liquid mirror astronomical telescope, by spinning mercury to form a paraboloidal shape, and investigated its benefits and limitations. In 1903, he developed a filter that was opaque to visible light but transparent to both ultraviolet and infrared. This filter is called “Wood’s glass”. It is used
References: Masters, B. (2009, October). Robert W. Wood: The Scientist who Played with Optics Anonymous. (2013, March 10). Robert W. Wood. Retrived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Wood He died in August 11, 1955 in Amityville, New York and the cause of his death is unspecified.