Engineering Your Own Spectrograph
Measurement is an important aspect of spacecraft design. Calipers are used to measure the exact thickness of an instrument part.
Students use simple materials to design an open spectrograph so they can calculate the angle light is bent when it passes through a holographic diffraction grating. A holographic diffraction grating acts like a prism, showing the visual components of light. After finding the desired angles, students use what they have learned to design their own spectrograph enclosure.
Engineers design spectrographs so astronomers can study atmospheres of stars, planets and even components of far galaxies. An engineer must look at a lot of key factors to make sure a spectrograph works correctly. They must accurately measure all angles, sometimes using computers to perform the calculations. Engineers also discuss with other engineers and scientists how to make improvements to the design in order to create an instrument that is most efficient and effective.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Design a simple experiment to measure the angle of light through a diffraction grating.
- Create a model of a basic spectrograph using the information they acquire during a light activity.
- Use the Pythagorean Theorem to size a spectrograph prototype.