Try This - Make Your Own Spectrometer
A Catalyst article describing how to make a spectrometer to analyse light by using a CD to split the light and some other household items for the rest of the equipment.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2011, Volume 21, Issue 4.
Catalyst is a science magazine for students aged 14-19 years. Annual subscriptions to print copies of the magazine can be purchased from Mindsets.
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Resource author
Resource by: Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme
Collections
The resource is part of Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme,Catalyst
- Catalyst
- Catalyst Volume 21 Issue 4
- Try This - Make Your Own Spectrometer
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Comments
I did this with a group of eight KS 3 'difficult' students at the end of a two hour session on light. Instead of the cereal box I used a washed out 1 litre juice carton as I felt it was a little more robust. The slit was constructed with two pieces of card taped at the required distance apart over a larger hole at the end.
I thought the students might have difficulty seeing what they were supposed to so had prepared one ready with a webcam to show them, naturally I forgot to bring it so was a bit worried that things would go wrong.
However after a relatively smooth time constructing it the reactions were immediate and none of them had any trouble at all using it. They clearly saw the difference between incandescent and fluorescent lights and were keen to try it out on other light sources.
It's great to hear your students shout 'wow!' when they've achieved something. This is an excellent resource especially on a zero budget and a great way to enhance a relevent lesson. Thank you.