Light and Colour in Nature

Code: FIS10049O

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Physics

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: E-learning

Presentation

This course, though not using a deep mathematical approach, intents to connect scientific knowledge and nature observation.
The physics study of the optical phenomena is developed in order to be applied to the atmospheric phenomena, whose observation will be stimulated throughout the course.

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

Cidades e comunidades sustentáveis - Tornar as cidades e os assentamentos humanos inclusivos, seguros, resilientes e sustentáveis.

Ação contra a mudança global do clima - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Vida na água - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

To stimulate the pleasure of Nature observation. To promote the critical sense. To stimulate the interest in the Optical Atmospheric Phenomena. To recognise the importance of the Atmospheric Optics for the observation of the environment. To identify and describe different cloud types.
To describe the phenomena of light reflection, refraction, diffusion, diffraction and polarization. To explain the concepts of propagation, depletion, absorption, etc., associated to the path of the solar radiation through the atmosphere.
To describe and interpret optical atmospheric phenomena (sky colours, cloud colours, rainbows, mirages, halos, coronas, green ray, etc.).
To make contact with the polemic about the nature and value of the scientific knowledge.

1 Are the colours in the light? Revisiting the polemics generated by Goethe, against Newton, about the origin of colours in Nature.
2 - The Atmospheric Optics. The Optical Atmospheric Phenomena. Cloud classification.
3 - Description of some optical phenomena. The electromagnetic spectrum and the visible light. . The phenomena of light reflexion, refraction, diffusion, diffraction and polarization.
4 - The solar radiation and the Earth Atmosphere: composition and vertical structure of the earth atmosphere. Propagation, depletion and absorption of the solar radiation in the atmosphere. The phenomena of reflexion, refraction, diffusion and diffraction, as the main physical mechanisms of interaction of the light with the atmosphere.
5 - Interpretation of the Optical Atmospheric Phenomena: sky colours, cloud colours, rainbows, mirages, halos, coronas, green ray, etc

Teaching Methods

- Visualization and analysis of videos. Realization of simulation exercises using applets and other computer programs available on-line. Reading and analysis of texts. Resolution of problems. Execution of written assignments. Participation in discussion forums. Execution of a portfolio of photos with comments.
- All the activities will be evaluated. An ongoing evaluation will facilitate learning processes. At the end of each module a written assignment or project that meets the objectives of the module should be completed.