Adgao-Tagpu-an-Ingay Integrated School
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Brgy. Adgao, Tubungan, Iloilo
Activity Number 1: DIY Spectroscope
Objectives:
Compare the relative wavelengths of different forms of electromagnetic
waves. (S10FE-IIa-b-47)
To build a simple spectroscope that separates visible light into its component
colors, from red to violet, demonstrating that white light is made up of many
wavelengths just like that of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Materials:
• 1 empty cardboard tube (paper towel or tissue roll)
• 1 old CD or DVD (scratched or unused)
• Black paper or construction paper
• Scissors or craft knife (teacher supervision required)
• Tape or glue
• Ruler and pencil
• Flashlight, lamp, or reflected sunlight (NOT direct sunlight)
Procedure:
1. Cover one end of the cardboard tube with black paper. Cut a small slit (~2 mm
wide, 2 cm long) at the center. This is the light entry slit.
2. Carefully cut the CD into a small triangular or rectangular piece (~3 × 3 cm). The
shiny side acts as a diffraction grating.
3. On the opposite end of the tube, cut a small rectangular window (~2 × 2 cm) at a
45° angle. Tape the CD piece over this window with the shiny side facing inward.
4. Cut a small viewing hole on the side of the tube, opposite the CD piece.
5. Point the slit end toward a light source (lamp, LED, or reflected sunlight). Look
through the viewing hole to see the rainbow spectrum.
Observation:
• A rainbow spectrum (red → orange → yellow → green → blue → violet) should be
visible.
• Compare different light sources:
- Incandescent bulb – continuous rainbow spectrum
- Fluorescent lamp – bright colored lines
- LED light – fewer colors, depending on type
SAFETY NOTE!!!!
⚠️Never look directly at the sun through the spectroscope. Always use safe artificial
lights or reflected sunlight.
Guide Questions:
1. What colors of the visible light have you observed?
2. Which color is on top or the first? Why do you think so? Which color is on
the bottom or the last? Why do you think so?
3. Why do you think the white light or the visible light was broken down into
many different colors? What made this possible?
4. What do you call the process of light scattering into its component
wavelengths?
5. What is the relationship between the colors in the rainbow spectrum and
their wavelengths?
References:
Exploratorium Teacher Institute. (n.d.). Make a spectroscope. Exploratorium. Retrieved from
[Link]
American Chemical Society (ACS). (2016). Make a CD Spectroscope. ACS Chemistry at Home. Retrieved
from [Link]
[Link]
University of Wisconsin–Madison. (n.d.). Build your own spectroscope. Wonders of Physics Outreach.
Retrieved from [Link]
TeachEngineering. (n.d.). The electromagnetic spectrum: Build and use a spectroscope. University of Colorado
Boulder. Retrieved from [Link]
Prepared by:
RICO JOHN T. TABURO, LPT