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This is a detailed instruction guide for building a spectroscope out of inexpensive materials. A spectrometer or spectroscope is an optical device that separates visible light into its component colors. In this classroom experiment, students will use low-cost diffraction gratings (readily available from scientific supply stores), a shoebox, tape, and index cards to construct a spectroscope. As students look through the slit at one end of the shoebox, they will see the light "sorted" by frequency into a spectrum of colors.
This item is part of a larger collection of resources for teachers and learners sponsored by the Exploratorium Museum, San Francisco. SEE RELATED MATERIALS on this page for a link to the full index of Exploratorium activities on the topic of light. **NOTE: Audio narration is available through RealAudio format, but is not required to view the resource.
This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.
Topic: Nature and Behavior of Light
Unit Title: Visible Light and Color Using a spectroscope, students can see that a single color of light is really comprised of a combination of colors, called a spectrum. This fun activity by the Exploratorium Museum shows them how to build a spectroscope out of a shoebox and other low-cost materials. The key "ingredient" of the spectroscope is a diffraction grating, a device with multiple evenly-spaced parallel slits to let light through. Don't worry...the diffraction grating material can be cheaply obtained. Link to Unit:
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<a href="http://www.thephysicsfront.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=3915">Exploratorium. How To Build a Spectroscope. February 12, 2008.</a>
AIP Format
Exploratorium, How To Build a Spectroscope (1999), WWW Document, (http://www.exploratorium.edu/spectroscope/).
AJP/PRST-PER
Exploratorium, How To Build a Spectroscope (1999), <http://www.exploratorium.edu/spectroscope/>.
APA Format
Exploratorium. (2008, February 12). How To Build a Spectroscope. Retrieved May 23, 2013, from http://www.exploratorium.edu/spectroscope/
Chicago Format
Exploratorium. How To Build a Spectroscope. February 12, 2008. http://www.exploratorium.edu/spectroscope/ (accessed 23 May 2013).
MLA Format
Exploratorium. How To Build a Spectroscope. 1999. 12 Feb. 2008. 23 May 2013 <http://www.exploratorium.edu/spectroscope/>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{
Author = "Exploratorium",
Title = {How To Build a Spectroscope},
Volume = {2013},
Number = {23 May 2013},
Month = {February 12, 2008},
Year = {1999}
}
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%Q Exploratorium
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%0 Electronic Source Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. This resource is stored in 4 shared folders. You must login to access shared folders. How To Build a Spectroscope:
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Exploratorium: Snacks About Light
A link to the full index of more than 40 activities developed by the Exploratorium on the topic of light. relation by Caroline HallKnow of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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