Different Types Of Optical Instruments

While the human eye is a remarkable tool, there are many instances when our eyes simply do not have the capacity necessary to complete a specific task or job. For example, a molecular scientist cannot see microscopic organisms without using a microscope. On the opposite end of the scale, an astronomer's work is far more precise with a powerful telescope. Inventors have designed hundreds of types of optical devices to help us expand our range of vision.

There are many types of instruments that allow us to view items, and not just those that are small or far away. These instruments are often called scopes, which comes from a Greek word that basically means "to look." There are many types of scopes, such as the immense radio and optical telescopes used to view objects and record signals from space, as well as a host of different microscopes. Scopes, such as fluoroscope, allow us to look inside of an object that we normally would have no easy access to, such as the internal human body.

While many optical instruments are used for viewing either tiny items or distant objects, some are used specifically for analysis. These devices are used to measure and then record the degree, rate or quantity of a specific object.

While it might seem like our eyes truly see a great deal, there is a huge amount that is simply not visible, such as gamma rays, ultraviolet light, radio waves and much more. However, we have developed many machines that can measure these rays, waves and light. The oscilloscope, for example, can measure electrical signals as well as radio waves. This has applications in many professions, including diagnosing problems in electrical equipment and even finding electrical issues in our cars and trucks.

Other objects that are used to analyze light include the photometer, which is used to measure the intensity of light. While this has obvious applications in the field of photography, it also is needed to help astronomers measure the amount of light in stars and other celestial objects. Even engineers use photometry to help them determine what type of lighting to use in different types of structures, such as office buildings.

There are many more types of instruments that are used to increase our optical ability, such as the alignment telescope. The alignment telescope is used in many situations to take highly accurate measurements in multiple directions that are perpendicular to the viewer's sight line.

Carey Bourdier enjoys blogging reviews on precision scientific instruments. For more information about optical instruments like an optical clinometer, or to find more information about a telemetric alignment system, go to the Warren Knight site now.