EXPERIMENT 02

OBSERVATION OF SPECTRA

INTRODUCTION:

In physics, as in very other area of study, one of the most valuable questions a student
Wolf-457 has a
density of 20.000 tons/in3, or the universe is 18 billion years old, or that a gravitational black

Practically everything we know about universe beyond the earth results from an
analysis of the spectrum of the light coming to us. Likewise, the spectrometer is one of the
most powerful instruments available to the scientist and engineer in studding laboratory
phenomena.

THEORY:

Two instruments are available for the purpose of forming a spectrum of visible light.
The first, a prism spectrometer, consists of (1) a collimator which forms a parallel beam of the
light radiated from a source, (2) a prism which uses the phenomenon of refraction to separate
the light into its various components (colors), and (3) a telescope to enhance viewing of the
spectrum.

Figure 1: Prism - Spectroscope

The second device is similar to the prism spectroscope except that a grating replaces the prism
and produces a spectrum through the phenomenon of diffraction.
The two general classes of spectra are emission (a series of bright lines or bands of
color against a dark background) and absorption (a series of dark lines or bands against a
bright background) spectra. There are three types of emission spectra: continuous, bright line,
and band spectra. Continuous spectra, looking like a cross section of the rainbow, are usually
produced by incandescent solids and liquids. Generally, bright line spectra are atomic spectra
produced by incandescent gases and vapors as electrons make downward transitions from
higher, more energetic orbits to the ground state. Band spectra ordinarily have an origin
which may be traced to molecular effects. An absorption spectrum is just what its name
implies -- a spectrum in which some parts are missing are due to part of the light energy
having been absorbed by passage through an absorbing medium. It may be of the dark band
or the dark line type. The light filters used in photography produce absorption bands. Almost
every liquid has an absorption band somewhere within the spectrum of visible light. The

THE EXPERIMENT:
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1. APPARATUS:

In this experiment you will use a Spectroscope (a replica diffraction grating) to

2. PROCEDURE:

2.1 The Dispersion Curve

Dispersion is the process of separating light into various wavelengths. This is done,
primarily, with the use of a prism or grating. In the case of a prism, the light is divided
according to its wave lengths because the glass has a different index of refraction for each
color, the index becoming larger as the wavelength gets smaller. This means that when light
passes through a prism, the red end of the spectrum is refracted less than the blue end of the
spectrum. If one plots a curve showing the amount of deviation for each wavelength of light,
he will obtain a dispersion curve for that particular instrument. Having plotted such a curve,
it may be used to determine unknown wavelengths when their deviations are measured.
Each curve is characteristic of the instrument for which it was drawn and cannot be used for
any other instrument. The accuracy with which unknown wavelengths can be determined
depends largely on the instrument for which the dispersion curve is drawn. Your dispersion
curve will be quite crude. It will be only a few inches in length. Accurate curves, sometimes
several feet in length, are useful in rapid spectrum analysis.
Illuminate the slit of the spectroscope with the provided spectrum tube light. The tube
containing the scale should be pointed toward a window or an artificial light. IT SHOULD
BE UNNECESSARY TO DISTURB THIS TUBE. Looking into the telescope, focus it until
a clear image of the slit is seen. IF THE SCALE IS NOT VISIBLE AT THIS TIME, HAVE
AN INSTRUCTOR MAKE PROPER ADJUSTMENT FOR YOU. Focus the telescope until
the yellow doublet is quite distinct. Read and record the positions of these two lines on the
scale. Do likewise for other lines listed on the card at your lab station. Replace the mercury
lamp with the other tube provided by your instructor and take the scale readings of the
spectral lines listed on the card. Record the scale reading for three or four other lines not
listed.

Go to the bulletin board and study the chart of spectra posted there-- this will aid you in
identifying the mercury lines.

Use the space provided on the worksheet to record the information requested.

Use the graph paper on the worksheet to plot wavelength versus your scale reading; i.e., make
a singe dispersion curve using the provided tubes spectra.

(b) OBSERVATION OF SPECTRA

For the remainder of this experiment you are to observe and chart the spectra of various
sources on the worksheet. Each chart should be one cm high and each division on the
horizontal scale is to represent one of the numbered units on the scale of the spectroscope.
Place the wavelength in Angstrom units at the top of the charts. Use the colored pencils
provided and see that they are returned at the end of the period.

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CAUTION: You can get a nasty shock from the high voltage required to excite the spectral
tubes. BE SURE ALL POWER IS OFF BEFORE HANDLING TUBES IN ANY WAY.

QUESTIONS:

1. The Doppler effect in sound manifests as a rise or fall in pitch (i.e., an increase or decrease
in frequency) as a sound source approaches or recedes from an observer. How could be
Doppler effect be observed in the light from a star and what kind of information can be gained
from a study of the effect?

2. Fraunhofer lines are dark lines on the continuous spectrum of the sun. What is the origin
of these lines? How might one determine something about the atmosphere of the Mars by
observing sunlight reflected from the planet?

3. A board beam of light from a sodium vapor lamp flame of a Bunsen burner. A small
screen is placed on the other side of the burner. Salt is sprinkled into the flame and brilliant
yellow light is observed. What is the origin of this light? When salt is sprinkled into the
flame, a shadow of the flame appears on the screen. In the absence of salt, no shadow is seen.
Explain.

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 AUI PHY 1402 LAB. REPORT

EXPERIMENT 02
OBSERVATION OF SPECTRA

NAME: . . DATE: . .

SECTION: . .

***

1. EXPERIMENTAL PURPOSE:
State the purpose of the experiment.( 5 points )

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND APPARATUS:

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3. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

TABLE 1: (25 points)

SPECTRAL LINES OF: SPECTRAL LINES OF:

GRAPH (25 points)

SPECTRA (25 points)

SPECTRUM OF:

SPECTRUM OF:

SPECTRUM OF:

SPECTRUM OF:

SPECTRUM OF:
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4. CONCLUSIONS: (5 points)

QUESTIONS: (10 points)

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