Questions 30-40% U1 M2 a1 j, h2 W' I. Q4 [
Most sources of illumination generate light over an appreciable period, and indeed if$ G' M$ p, `" L& f6 L; q
an object is lit for a very brief time(less that 1/25 second), the human eye will not react1 o# Y) _1 c, s* [8 \6 W" U
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 8 f1 H1 s6 c* W4 Y, ]
(5 ) photographic flash can therefore be used to capture high-speed movement on film as well $ b( }* \/ ?) P p! I( ~
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
1 B; h. ]" R: {; ]6 Z magnesium wire and some oxygen-rich substance, such as potassium chlorate. When the$ {1 h$ N% Z9 n# V- m7 V7 E
bag was ignited, the metal burned with an intense flash. A contemporary observer reported0 H; p/ K: j. v4 S+ y0 B
(10) that “this quite unsafe device seems to have done nothing worse that engulf the room in
! P: [* c- i# h! X( C dense smoke and lead to pictures of dubious quality and odd poses.”
8 L$ l- x; A1 M, Q; G5 R The evolution of the photoflash was slow, flashbulbs, containing fine wire made of a, A# Z4 @$ _9 ` M
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
* y3 ^+ j1 z- |7 H0 m/ L(15) was separated from the oxygen by a thin glass bulb. The flash was fired by piercing the
% W1 S6 x) ^9 c' P( t6 \2 Nbulb and allowing the oxygen to come into contact with the metal, which ignited
& g* T' `; ~- |3 {/ Aspontaneously. Later bulbs were fired by an electric battery, which heated the wire by - E/ r" @3 R% c$ x
passing a small current through it. Other combinations, such as the pairing of oxygen
0 k! c- g" s5 @; F0 y/ g( Z+ Mdifluoride with zirconium, have also been used. In each case enough energy is given out to
( c" H4 X) u S+ A(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 9 a/ J a/ `$ ?: X
of the metal will burn for a longer time.: f( u2 ?% n$ M8 U0 q6 X( L
4 @/ e/ k# K6 } [; K" K30 What does the passage mainly discuss?$ n# I. b q D" X9 j
(A) The history of the photoflash
f4 G& |1 ]) V" y* {1 |. V(B) Theories about how the eye reacts to light
3 ~5 B4 [7 p; N8 _5 T3 M/ L+ P) A(C) The technology of modern photography3 c: p d: @1 t9 k1 S
(D) The dangers of using the early photoflash
8 s* e- _& D6 Q% I. I31 According to the passage,1/25 second is the minimum amount of time required for the
; G& q0 L w& h X; U; T(A) recording of an image on film% k4 V( E$ V7 e; m5 @* n+ ]
(B) generation of artificial light
2 I2 W2 r# T6 V(C) creation of a photographic emulsion1 B% |/ L# g5 ?- o
(D) human eye to react to light |