29REFLECTION SPECTROSCOPE

Document for the student

As you already know, when sunlight passes through small raindrops, it breaks down into
the colors that make it up and form a rainbow. The spectrum of can also be observed.
colors of white light passing through a prism (a piece of glass whose faces are not
parallel). This way of decomposing light is based on the fact that each of the colors that make up the
white light experiences a different deviation when passing through a transparent medium. This property is
related to the refraction of light and, therefore, depends on the refractive index of the medium by
the one that propagates light.
But white light also breaks down into its colors when it hits obstacles.
that are very close to each other (separated by distances that are on the order of the length of
light wave). This way of breaking down light is related to diffraction, which is a
phenomenon that reveals the wave nature of light.
In this practice, we will learn to build a device based on the diffraction of light that
it allows us to see the light spectra emitted by different light sources.
The basic element of this simple instrument is a compact disc (CD) on which
There is a printed spiral track on the surface (where information is recorded). Since there is very little
separation between two consecutive turns of the spiral, the CD behaves like a network of
diffraction. When white light from a light source reflects off a grid of
diffraction, each color of light is deflected at a different angle. For this reason, when light strikes
white on the compact disc, we observe the colors of the rainbow in the diffracted light.

Figure 1. (Left) Spectroscopes made with homemade materials. (Right) Sector of the CD that will be used as a diffraction grating.
of diffraction.

Objectives
- Build a spectroscope with homemade materials, as shown in figure 1.
- Observe continuous spectra (sunlight or incandescent bulb light) and discrete
(fluorescent lamps, street lighting, flat computer monitor, etc.).

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Material
- Black cardboard.
- A compact disc (CD that may be used).
- Scissors.
- Glue.
- Black adhesive tape (electrical tape).

Work to be done
You have to build a small box (preferably black cardboard) and put in a
piece of a compact disc, so that when the light reflects off the CD it breaks down into its different
components and origin a spectrum (figure 2).

Spectrum
Light to analyze

Window of
Rendija
observation

CD

Figure 2. Formation of the spectrum by reflection of light on the CD, which acts
as a diffraction grating.

• On the internet, you can find various models of homemade spectroscopes. In what follows
we will use a very simple oneto which we will introduce some small modifications to
facilitate its construction.
• Transfer the measurements of figure 3 to a black cardboard sheet, trying to respect the
dimensions indicated (in cm). Cut out its outline with scissors.
• The narrower the slit through which light enters the box, the more defined the
spectrum, but at the same time it will be less bright. In practice, results are obtained
acceptable widths between 1 and 2 mm. To build the slit, you must
take two black cardboard rectangles (4 cm wide) and stick them on the window
cut out on the small face of the box (figure 4).
• Next, we are going to prepare the diffraction grating that will decompose the light that enters.
box. To do this, you need to cut a circular sector from the CD, so that it fits as well as possible.
inside the box. Mark the sector on the CD using a pen or a marker
indelible.
• The easiest way to cut the compact disc, without chipping the edges, is to cut it
under the water (figure 5). Pour about 10 cm of water into a bucket, introduce the disk under the
water and cut it slowly with the scissors.
• Before definitively closing the box, we must find the most suitable position for the
cut circular sector of the CD (figure 6). As a guideline, you can start
placing the CD sector about 2 cm from the base of the observation window, close
provisionally the box and move the CD piece until finding the ideal position in
that the spectrum of an incandescent bulb appears centered on it.

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 4
1.5

10
11

2.5 2.5

2.5

4 4 4 4 1.5
Figure 3. Template with the recommended measurements (in cm) for building the spectroscope box.

Figure 4. With two cardboard rectangles, a slit is constructed that has a width ranging
between 1 and 2 mm.

Figure 5. The CD can be easily cut using ordinary scissors. It is advisable to cut it under the
water to prevent the edges from chipping.

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 • The next step is to close the box by gluing the flaps (figure 6). At the front
the slit will remain, while in the back there will be an opening through which one can
observe the spectrum formed when light strikes the surface of the CD.

Figure 6. Spectroscope ready to close the box.

• Finally, to prevent light from entering the box from anywhere other than the front slot,
Reinforce the edges of the box with black electrical tape, ensuring that there are no gaps.
a crack through which light can enter.

Observation of spectra
• We will start by observing the spectrum of sunlight. Stand near a window or outside.
free and look through the observation window of the spectroscope. Do not direct the slit
directly to the Sun, because direct sunlight or light reflected on the CD can harm you.
retina.
• In this way, the light reflected by the CD is broken down into its components and appears
all the colors of the rainbow, that is, you are observing a continuous spectrum in which
All the components of white light are present, from red to violet.
• Observe below the spectrum of light coming from an incandescent bulb.
(of those that have a filament that turns white-yellowish). What is this like?
spectrum?
• Next, analyze the light emitted by a fluorescent tube (figure 7). If you do not see well the
spectrum, bring the spectroscope close to the tube. You will observe that on the continuous spectrum of the
white light appears with stripes whose color is more intense. This second spectrum, which
it stands out about the continuous, it is called discontinuous (or discrete) because it only contains certain
colors caused by the light emitted by mercury and other elements present in the
interior of the fluorescent tube.
• Analyze the light coming from other sources, such as a candle, a halogen lamp, the light.
from public lighting, the light emitted by LED diodes (like those that are present in
many traffic lights), the red light coming from the power indicator of the power strips
plugs, the light emitted by the flat screen of a computer (with different colors of
background: white, red, green, blue, etc.). Figure 7 shows the spectra of other sources.
luminous.

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 red green blue red green red green blue
orange orange

Figure 2. Spectra of light from various luminous sources observed with the spectroscope that you
we propose to build: (Left) fluorescent tube, (Center) computer monitor and (Right) energy-saving lamp.

Report
Write a report explaining how you built the spectroscope and what it is like.
the spectra of the different sources that you have analyzed. Attach the spectroscope to the report that
you have used.

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 29REFLECTION SPECTROSCOPE
Document for the teacher

Content block The atom.

Home experience: 2 h.
Completion time
Preparation of the report: 1 h.
This practice can be presented as a task that students carry out.
at home, as the required materials allow it.
This spectroscope can be used to analyze the light emitted by various
Observations sources such as sunlight, an incandescent bulb, tubes
fluorescent, low consumption lamps, LED diodes, etc.
One should not look directly at sunlight (nor at its reflection on the CD),
it can damage the retina.

(1)[Link]

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