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Physics in Cameras

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Cameras have been a popular device ever since they were invented during the late 1800’s. Cameras are electronics that give us the ability to capture a moment with the push of a button. These little machines allow a real life image to be seen on paper and to be kept as a memento. The way that cameras are able to do this is through physics. Cameras are relatable to physics because they involve visible light, light refraction, light reflections, and electromagnetic fields in the motor. Cameras are involved with physics because they use visible light to capture a picture. Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum contains different wavelengths and frequencies. The visible light spectrum is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see. Specific wavelengths in the spectrum are represented by specific colors. This is how humans are able to perceive colors, through visible light. When a camera captures an image, it uses visible light to capture the different wavelengths. These wavelengths are seen as different colors which come together to create the image. Visible light is what allows the colors that create the image to be seen when the picture is captured.
Cameras are also involved with physics because they use light refraction to focus the image. Light refraction is the change in the speed of light when it enters a medium of a different speed. For example, lenses on a camera are mediums that refract light. The light wave

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