Activity 2.12 The Visible Spectrum

Take Notes (Part I) on What is the Visible Spectrum? 

Part II of the Notes is a teacher led activity.  Review  Using a Spectroscope

View the Visible Spectrum from a prism.  Make  observations.

Answer these question about the spectroscope and viewing the visible spectrum.

1.  How did the spectra of the samples differ?

2.  If all the bands you observed were drawn on one band, describe what it would look like?

3.  How can scientists tell what elements are present in a given sample?

4.  Spectral lines are often called the "fingerprints" of the elements.Why do you think this is so?

5.  What other device besides a spectroscope breaks light into its component colors?
 

Visible Spectrum
http://www.exploratorium.edu/spectra_from_space/visible_activity.html

Reading on Color and Light
http://acept.la.asu.edu/PiN/rdg/color/color.shtml

The Physics of Color
http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color

The Color Spectrum
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

Using a Spectroscope to study Gem stones
http://www.yourgemologist.com/Spectroscope/spectroscope.html

Spectra from different materials
http://home.achilles.net/~jtalbot/data/elements/index.html

Using Spectra to study the stars
http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/DEMOS/Desk_Top_Stars/LS_Background.html

Spectroscope of an Atom
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/phantom/spectroscope.html

Colors of the Sun Poster available
http://solar-center.stanford.edu/posters.html

Copyright © 1999 Gallaudet University Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center All Rights Reserved Mon Jan 6 05:23:32 2003