Light consists of electromagnetic waves or paired electric and magnetic fields propagating as waves. we have learned in this module that oscillations in the magnetic component of the e& m field can induce a sinusoidal oscillating electric field. it was the insight of another physicist, james maxwell clerk, that these very same oscillations in the electric field can in turn induce a magnetic field. as a wave phenomenon, electromagnetic waves have both a wavelength and a frequency (f). the full range of wavelengths and frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum, and is divided into 6 different bands. in order of increasing frequency (or decreasing wavelength) we have the radio, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma portions of the spectrum. given that the wavelengths range from kilometers long to less than the size of a nucleus, light in each band is detected in a different manner. for instance, radio waves can be meters or even kilometers long, and are detected using conductive antennas. the range from 400 to 700 nm corresponds to the visible spectrum, and is detected by light and color sensitive cells in the retina of the eye. human vision is limited by more than just the wavelengths of light to which it is sensitive. we are also limited by the size of the human iris and its ability to collect light and thus by the ability to detect ("see") dim objects. both points are illustrated in time lapse video [video file][03 min 17 sec] which shows us a world in which stars can be seen during the daylight and nighttime landscapes, lit by starlight. to complete this discussion activity: write an initial response to the following three discussion prompts. post your response to the discussion board. what if human vision were augmented to include an additional 100 nm on either the infrared or the ultraviolet sides of the visible spectrum? what additional items or effects would we be able to perceive that we cannot now perceive? the sensitivity of our vision is also dependent on the amount of light we can collect before processing it into an image. how would our perception change if we could speed or slow this process? choose one band of the electromagnetic spectrum other than the visible spectrum. describe the physical principle behind the instruments used to detect light in this portion of the spectrum. how do physicists, astronomers or other scientists use this portion of the spectrum to increase our understanding of the world we live in?