Most sources of illumination generate light over an appreciable period, and indeed if
an object is lit for a very brief time(less that 1/25 second), the human eye will not react
in time to see the object. A photographic emulsion---that is, a light-sensitive coating on
photographic film, paper, or glass--will, however, record much shorter bursts of light. A
(5) photographic flash can therefore be used to capture high-speed movement on film as well
as to correct deficiencies of the normal surrounding lighting. Photoflash is now generated
electronically, but the earliest form, first used in 1864, was a paper bag containing
magnesium wire and some oxygen-rich substance, such as potassium chlorate. When the
bag was ignited, the metal burned with an intense flash. A contemporary observer reported
(10) that "this quite unsafe device seems to have done nothing worse that engulf the room in
dense smoke and lead to pictures of dubious quality and odd poses."
The evolution of the photoflash was slow, flashbulbs, containing fine wire made of a
metal, such as magnesium or aluminum, capable of being ignited in an atmosphere of pure oxygen
at low pressure, were introduced only in the 1920's.In the earliest type, the metal
(15) was separated from the oxygen by a thin glass bulb. The dash was fired by piercing the
bulb and allowing the oxygen to come into contact with the metal, which ignited
spontaneously. Later bulbs were fired by an electric battery, which heated the wire by
passing a small current through it. Other combinations, such as the pairing of oxygen
difluoride with zirconium, have also been used. In each case enough energy is given out to
(20) heat the oxidizable metal momentarily to a white-hot emission of visible light. The smoke
particles are so small that they cool rapidly; but since they are white, they contribute to the
brilliance by reflecting the light from their still-glowing neighbors. A slightly bigger form
of the metal will burn for a longer time.
What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The history of the photoflash
B. Theories about how the eye reacts to light
C. The technology of modern photography
D. The dangers of using the early photoflash
A.The Moon has no waterB.The Moon's materials came from Earth's coreC.The Moon's core
A. The Moon has no water
B. The Moon's materials came from Earth's core
C. The Moon's core differs from its surface
D. The Moon contains little iron
A.To give an example of a bad reaction to penicillinB.To show how penicillin has chang
A. To give an example of a bad reaction to penicillin
B. To show how penicillin has changed over the years
C. To emphasize the importance of antibiotics
D. To explain why penicillin requires a prescription
The United States Congress appropriates some four million dollars______ the upkeep of the
A. year for a
B. for a year
C. a year for
D. a for year