UnitGrades 6 - 8
Spectroscopy
Students create and use spectrographs.
We recommend this eight-activity middle school unit be conducted in the following order:
- Patterns and Fingerprints
- Graphing the Rainbow
- Using Spectral Data to Explore Saturn and Titan
- Building a Fancy Spectrograph
- Using a Fancy Spectrograph
- A Spectral Mystery
- Engineering Your Own Spectrograph
- Designing a Spectroscopy Mission (this last activity is suitable for grades 10-12)
Spectrographs are used in ground-based telescopes and in space to help astronomers answer questions about what makes up the atmospheres of distant planets and stars. Engineers create these spectrographs to advance our knowledge of the universe. Spectrographs are designed very specifically to analyze certain types of light. The type of spectrograph materials used determines which spectral lines can be seen. Creating spectrographs to operate from space satellites is a special challenge, requiring the development of lightweight and durable materials and equipment that can withstand space travel.