CD Light Spectroscope
Have you ever wondered what light was made of? Or even wondered how you can find out what light was made of?
Today I started to experiment with a prism. The prism is deigned to split light by refraction and causes it to display a rainbow when it bends the light rays as they pass through the glass. For the light spectroscope I am creating, I will be able to see the light spectrum any type of light. After building this spectroscope, I will continue to use it later in the semester to measure the wavelength of certain elements. Although for this spectroscope, I will replace the prism with a DVD. The DVD will still split the light and display the wavelengths the light produces.
9FEB2015 |
My spectroscope was built with common household items. I used a USPS shipping box, cardboard tube, DVD, business cards, and tapped it all together with aluminum tape. The tube on the side is where the viewer will look through and see the reflection the light gives off of the DVD. The tiny slit that is visible on the second picture below is where the light will shine through. The tube and slit are the only open areas of the spectroscope; everything else is sealed off with aluminum tape. The building process took a day and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I was afraid I wouldn't have enough time to gather all of the materials I needed and build the spectroscope. I was afraid I might rush the process and end up with a box. Luckily I was able to work with the time I was given and take my time with the building process.
10FEB2015
10FEB2015
For the next section of chemistry, I will use the spectroscope to measure different lights and elements. Although I built this on my own, I would invite anyone who is also interested in light to join for the second part of my project. For my second section, I will burn certain substances that will emit a different color and note what reflection it will have when I use my spectroscope. I am very excited to use my spectroscope and learn how a simple DVD can help me learn more about light.
11FEB2015
11FEB2015
Measuring Light
[Will be continued.]