For this project you are going to observe some light sources. You are going to o

For this project you are going to observe some light sources. You are going to observe the SPECTRA of at least SIX light sources. You will use a spectroscope. Recall that a spectroscope spreads out light into its component colors, or WAVELENGTHS. A laser pointer emits light at just one wavelength. A light bulb emits a mix of countless wavelengths. A spectroscope spreads them out so you can see the colors, or wavelengths, separately.
Let the light from the source shine in through the vertical slit in the spectroscope. Concentrate on seeing the light come through the vertical slit first, then move your eyes to the left or right to see the colorful spectrum. It takes some practice to produce a nice rainbow, or spectrum. For example, the Sun delivers way more light than you need, but the Moon’s spectrum is tough to see because the Moon is much fainter than the Sun and only a narrow slit allows the light through. You will be able to see rainbows on the left and right, and even on top of the wavelength scale, depending on how you hold the spectroscope.
Sources with a small angular size in your field of view (like a pen light, candle flame, the Sun,) produce the best spectra. Big sources like a TV screen or your roof on fire will be difficult: There will be fat, overlapping spectra.
Try observing the Sun, an incandescent light bulb, an LED light, a fluorescent light, a candle flame, gas flame from stove or propane torch, streetlight, red light from electric stove coil. When you observe the Sun, do not put the slit directly on the Sun. It is too bright. Protect your eyes by putting the slit near the Sun, but not directly on it. Keep the Sun just out of the slit. You will still get plenty of light and a bright spectrum. Pay attention to the dark absorption lines you see against the Sun’s spectrum (rainbow). Draw them in on your diagram.
Draw me a picture of your observations of six light sources. Make it look like a long bar, with sections showing the different colors. One bar for each spectrum/light source observed. Use colored pencils. Label the parts of the spectrum indicating colors and brightnesses. Send me a photo or scan of your picture.
Make comments on what you’ve seen. You will need them for your report in the next project. For example, “I was surprised how little yellow light I saw in the spectrum of a candle flame. There definitely wasn’t much blue, but there was a lot of RED.”
I expect you to draw me at least SIX SPECTRA (rainbows). Be a careful observer and recorder. Don’t just make a kindergarten mess with your crayons. I know what these spectra are supposed to look like, so pay attention. This is easy points if you follow instructions the first time. Many of your predecessors did not and brought great pain upon themselves.