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Name______________________________ (Partner________________________________)

Spectroscope lab-Information From Starlight

Materials: spectroscope, 1 sheet white paper, various lights, complete set of colored pencils, spectrum charts

Introduction: You will now use an instrument called a spectroscope to observe the spectrum of different types of light sources.

Part A. Observing Spectra: Source SUN (if sun is not shining; skip and go to part B.)

CAUTION: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH OUR WITHOUT A SPECTROSCOPE. YOU MAY BURN THE RETINA AT THE BACK OF YOUR EYE AND CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE!

1. Lay a sheet of white paper in a patch of direct sunlight.

2. Point the slit end of the spectroscope towards the paper with the slit pointing up and down.

3. Look inside the tube until you see a spectrum clearly . Turn the eyepiece without turning the turning the slit until the spectrum is as wide as you can make it. It should look like a multi-colored flag.
 
4. Draw what you see with colored pencils. You may start from either side.
 
 
 
 
5. Do the colors appear to BLEND TOGETHER in a continuous rainbow or do they appear as separate colored bands or bright lines?
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Part B. Observing Spectra: (An ordinary light bulb)

1. Point the slit end of the spectroscope towards the light bulb with the slit pointing up and down.

2. Look inside the tube until you see a spectrum clearly . Turn the eyepiece without turning the turning the slit until the spectrum is as wide as you can make it. It should look like a multi-colored flag.
 
3. Draw what you see in colored pencils. You may start from either side.
 
 
 
 
4. Do the colors appear to BLEND TOGETHER in a continuous rainbow or do they appear as separate colored bands or bright lines?
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Part C. Observing Spectra: ( Fluorescent tubes)
 
1. Look at a fluorescent light tube in the classroom ceiling. Draw what you see in colored pencils.
 
 
2. Now look at the tubes. Each one contains a different element. See if you can identify the elements by the pattern of bright line spectra they make. Use colored pencils, draw the pattern of bright lines given off by each tube. Compare your drawing with the wall charts and identify each elemente. ( The choices will be listed on the blackboard.
 
3. Record your answers here:
 
 Tube number  Pattern of bright line spectra observed  Name of Element
 1    
 2    
 3    
 4    
 5    
 
There are three main types of spectra: continuous, bright line, and dark line. In this lesson, you have seen two types. Which two types did you observe?
1.__________________________________
 
2.__________________________________
 
Fill in the chart below to summarize your findings:

 Light Source

 Type of Spectra observed
 relected sunlight  
 ordinary light bulb  
 fluorescent tube  
 fluoresecent tube with one element  
 
Based on what you did in this lab, what do you suppose that astronomers can learn about the stars from looking at them through a spectrascope-type instrument?
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