This lesson guides students to build a spectroscope, use it as tool, and interpret their observations by applying concepts of conservation of energy and properties of matter.Students will observe all three kinds of spectra: continuous, emission, and absorption.
What Students Do
Students make a spetroscope out of common classroom materials and a transmission grating. The spectroscope includes an adjustable slit that students make out of index cards.
Materials You Will Need
Whole Class
- Incandescent light bulb (60-100 watt frosted) and base.
- Optional: String of clear holiday lights.
- Fluorescent light (single bulb).
- Transmission grating slides (35mm slide).
- Manila folders
- Black construction paper (9 x 11 inches)
- Optional: Glo-Doodler (by Colorforms) — a toy writing tablet with a hot pink plastic sheet that “glows” when you write on it. It also strongly absorbs green light and emits yellow, orange and red.
Per Spectroscope
- Half of a manila folder: cut a whole manila folder along the fold to produce two 8 x 11 sheets.
- 1 sheet of black construction paper.
- 2 small (20 mm or 3/4 inch) binder clips.
- 2 index cards (3 by 5 inch size) to make the adjustable slit.
- Clear tape and 2 rubber bands.
- 1 Transmission grating slide (35mm slide).
Downloads
Spectroscope — Teachers
Download PDF (14 MB)Spectroscope — Students
Download PDF (497 KB)Spectroscope — StarDate Scripts
Download PDF (49 KB)