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Curricular Unit: Spectroscopy

Contributed by: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado at Boulder

Two photos: (left) A student uses an X-acto-knife to cut a hole in the lid of an oatmeal container, and (right) a student looks through his finished spectrograph at a gas discharge tube.
Students create and use spectrographs.
click for copyright


Grade: 7 (6-8)


Summary

Students learn how using a spectrograph helps us understand the composition of light sources. Using simple materials and holographic diffraction gratings (available online at a variety of sites, including Edmund Scientifics and the Rainbow Symphony Store for ~50 cents each), students create and customize their own spectrographs - just like engineers. They gather data about different light sources, make comparisons between sources, and theorize about their composition. Before building spectrographs, students learn and apply several methods to identify and interpret patterns, specifically different ways of displaying visual spectra. They also use spectral data from the Cassini mission to Saturn and its moon, Titan, to determine the chemical composition of the planet's rings and its moon's atmosphere.


Engineering Connection

Spectrographs are used in ground-based telescopes and in space to help astronomers answer questions about what makes up the atmospheres of distant planets and stars. Engineers create these spectrographs to advance our knowledge of the universe. Spectrographs are designed very specifically to analyze certain types of light. The spectrograph materials used determine which spectral lines can be seen. Creating spectrographs to operate from space satellites is a special challenge, requiring the development of lightweight and durable materials and equipment that can withstand space travel.


Keywords: angle, color, diffraction, light, patterns, prism, space, spectra, spectrograph


Related Subject Areas

Related Activities

Unit Overview (Return to Contents)

We recommend that this eight-activity middle school unit be conducted in the following order:

  1. Patterns and Fingerprints
  2. Graphing the Rainbow
  3. Using Spectral Data to Explore Saturn and Titan
  4. Building a Fancy Spectrograph
  5. Using a Fancy Spectrograph
  6. A Spectral Mystery
  7. Engineering Your Own Spectrograph
  8. Designing a Spectroscopy Mission (this last activity is suitable for grades 10-12).

Contributors

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Project SPECTRA!, a NASA-funded program

Copyright

© 2007 by Regents of the University of Colorado.

Supporting Program

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado at Boulder

Last Modified: May 10, 2010
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