Final answer:
Visible light has specific characteristics, and understanding them helps advance technology like the James Webb Telescope.
Step-by-step explanation:
The waves in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum have certain characteristics. They have wavelengths between approximately 400 and 700 nanometers and frequencies between approximately 430 and 750 terahertz. These waves are able to stimulate the photoreceptor cells in our eyes, allowing us to see different colors.
Understanding these characteristics of visible light has enabled the development of technologies like the new James Webb Telescope. The telescope is designed to observe the universe in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which lies just beyond the visible range. By studying infrared light, the James Webb Telescope will be able to detect and analyze distant objects, such as galaxies and protoplanetary disks, that emit light in the infrared range.