What type of film is sensitive to a wide spectrum of light and commonly used in aerial mapping?

The correct answer is panchromatic black and white film. This type of film is designed to be sensitive across a broad range of wavelengths from the visible spectrum, making it highly effective for capturing detail and contrast in various lighting conditions. In aerial mapping, this characteristic is particularly valuable because it allows for the effective representation of topography and surface features without the influence of color, which can sometimes obscure important details.

Panchromatic film captures all tones of grey in a scene, which helps in producing clear images that highlight variations in terrain and other features. This sensitivity to a wide spectrum of light enhances its utility in a variety of environmental conditions, enabling surveyors to produce accurate and detailed maps.

In contrast, natural color film is mainly used for capturing images in true color, which may not always delineate features as clearly as panchromatic film, particularly in complex landscapes. Black and white infrared film is sensitive to infrared light and can be used to differentiate vegetation from non-vegetation but is more specialized. False color infrared film, while valuable for analyzing certain types of data (like vegetation health), does not typically serve the same broad mapping purposes as panchromatic film.