A Spectral Mystery
(top) LEDs of multiple colors are mixed to create white with high color-rendering quality for research of various light sources. (bottom) A woman uses a crystallography beamline for multi-wavelength diffraction experiments.Copyright (top) Fred Schubert, RPI, Sandia National Laboratories and (bottom) Berkeley Lab Public Affairs Office http://www.sandia.gov/news/publications/annual/2007/ern-ssl.html http://cso.lbl.gov/photo/gallery/ALS/XBD9910-02265-01.html
Students use the spectrographs from the "Building a Fancy Spectrograph" activity to gather data about light sources. Using their data, they make comparisons between different light sources and make conjectures about the composition of a mystery light source.
Engineers design spectrographs to use in both ground- and space-based telescopes to help astronomers figure out of what materials stars, planets and planetary atmospheres are made. Designing and developing the spectrographs for space satellites is a special challenge, and requires engineering of lightweight materials as well as durable equipment that can withstand the rigors of space travel.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how patterns can tell us something about what kind of light we see.
- Explain the equipment engineers use to understand atmospheric constituents.
- Understand how spectograph technology is used to explore outer space.