Camera Obscura Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the camera obscura and how does it work?

Its Latin name means dark chamber. A darkened box with a convex lens or aperture for projecting the image of an external object onto a screen inside.

What are the lenses of the camera obscura?

Small darkened rooms with light admitted through a single tiny hole.

What natural event can you use the camera obscura for?

Viewing solar eclipses of the Sun without endangering the eyes.

What is light-sensitive material?

Photographic film and paper that is sensitive to white light. Signup and view all the answers

Where and when was the first photograph taken?

In Burgoyne, France by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce at 1826 or 1827. Signup and view all the answers

What inventions did photography lead to?

Moving pictures. Signup and view all the answers

What pair of inventions did Edison take credit for that would lead to movies?

Kinetograph and kinetoscope. Signup and view all the answers

Where are the Lumiere brothers from, and why might that be important?

Besançon, France. Signup and view all the answers

What was the improvement that the Lumiere Brothers made on Edison's invention?

They integrated a special mechanism that moved the film through the device and allowed more than one person to watch at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What was the first movie?

Roundhay Garden Scene (1888). Signup and view all the answers

What is the illusion of motion?

When an artist creates a work that deceives our eyes into believing there is motion as time passes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between musical reproduction and musical recording?

Musical recording is audio recording, while musical reproduction is on paper. Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the first sound recording?

Charles Cros. Signup and view all the answers

Why is a music box not a true recording?

It does not record the music; it just plays the notes that are in it. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the phonograph, and what could it do?

Thomas Edison. Signup and view all the answers

How did Bell improve the phonograph?

He used wax instead of tin foil and a floating stylus instead of a rigid needle. Signup and view all the answers

What widespread invention limited the sales of record players in the 30's and 40's?

Radios. Signup and view all the answers

What musical genre likely led to increased sales in the 50's and 60's?

Rock and roll. Signup and view all the answers

What is a microphone, and who invented it?

An instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy variations. Signup and view all the answers

What are different types of microphone?

Dynamic Microphone, Condenser Microphone, Short Shotgun Microphone. Signup and view all the answers

What is an audio transducer?

Devices that convert energy from audio signals into mechanical energy. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of microphone would you use to record a concert, and what kind for dialogue in a movie?

Dynamic Microphone for concert work, and Condenser Microphone for dialogue. Signup and view all the answers

How does a speaker work?

When an electric current is sent through a coil of wire, it induces a magnetic field. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the ability to reach across borders important to radio?

It can become a valuable source of information where reliable news is scarce. Signup and view all the answers

Why did radio develop later?

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Camera Obscura

Camera obscura, Latin for "dark chamber," is a darkened box with a lens or aperture that projects external images onto an internal screen.
Historically significant in the development of photography; requires a small hole to allow light entry.

Lenses and Functionality

Involves small darkened rooms with light entering through a single tiny hole, transforming any room into a large camera obscura.
Outside images appear upside down in a dark room; using a lens can enhance focus.

Practical Applications

Can safely view solar eclipses without harming eyesight.

Light-Sensitive Materials

Photographic film and paper consist of tiny light-sensitive grains suspended in a chemical medium.
Exposure to light triggers a chemical reaction; silver nitrate was the predominant paper used historically.

Historical Milestones

The first photograph was captured by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in France around 1826-1827.
Photography led to the invention of moving pictures, paving the way for cinema.

Pioneer Film Technology

Thomas Edison credited for the Kinetograph and Kinetoscope, key inventions in early motion picture technology.
The Lumière brothers from Besançon, France, created the Cinématographe, an early motion-picture camera and projector.

Innovations in Film

The Lumière brothers' Cinématographe featured a mechanism that allowed multiple viewers to watch simultaneously, an improvement over Edison's designs.
The first film, "Roundhay Garden Scene," was made in 1888, featuring a horse in motion.

Motion Perception

The illusion of motion arises when artwork deceives the viewer into perceiving movement over time.

Sound Recording Vs. Musical Reproduction

Musical Recording refers to audio capturing, while Musical Reproduction refers to notation on paper.
The first sound recording was developed by Charles Cros with the playophone.

Music Boxes and Recording

Music boxes do not constitute true recording as they merely replay pre-set notes, unlike instruments that create live sounds.

Phonograph Invention

Invented by Thomas Edison, the phonograph records and reproduces music.

Enhancements by Bell

Alexander Graham Bell improved the phonograph by replacing tin foil with wax and employing a floating stylus instead of a rigid needle.

Market Competition

The rise of radios in the 1930s and 40s reduced the market for record players.

Influence of Rock and Roll

Rock and roll emerged as a significant genre, boosting sales of records in the 1950s and 60s.

Microphones and Their Importance

A microphone, invented by Emile Berliner, transforms sound waves into electrical variations, essential for capturing dialogue in video production.

Types of Microphones

Dynamic Microphones are sturdy for concerts, whereas Condenser Microphones capture quiet sounds effectively; short shotgun microphones assist in focused audio capture.

Audio Transducers

Devices known as audio transducers convert audio signal energy into mechanical energy.

Microphone Selection for Recording

A Dynamic Microphone is suited for concerts, while a Condenser Microphone is ideal for dialogue in films.

Speaker Operation

Speakers function by sending an electric current through a coil, creating a magnetic field that interacts with a permanent magnet to produce sound.

Importance of Radio

Radio enhances communication across borders and serves as a vital information source where news is limited.

Development of Radio

Radio technology emerged later due to various historical, technological, and societal factors.

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Description

Explore the fascinating concept of the camera obscura through these flashcards. Learn about its definition, historical significance in photography, and the mechanics of how it works. Perfect for students wanting to deepen their understanding of optics.