Basic Idea:

• Examine the spectrum of Hydrogen, and measure the wavelength of each visible line.

	What:	How Many:	Where:
	Spectrometers (see photo details page)	1	Majors storeroom, shelf P2
	Spectrometer power supplies	1	Majors storeroom, shelf P2
	New Cenco Spectrum Tube Power Supply w/Hydrogen tube (with green base; photo below)	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf QQ4
The following parts are found in the small wooden accessory boxes:
	Diffraction grating	1	Majors storeroom, shelf P2
	Diffraction grating base	1	Majors storeroom, shelf P2
	Illuminated magnifying lens	1	Majors storeroom, shelf P2
Spectrometer Accessories – Place on front lab bench
	Small wood boxes containing spectrometer accessories	All of them	Majors storeroom, shelf P3
	Flashlights	All of them	Ask Jeff

Computers Needed?

• No.

• Setup location (see this page for photo details):
  • Note that all spectrometers face the front of the classroom. Light leaks in through the window blocks, so it's best if they face away from the windows
  • Keep spectrometers near edge of bench as shown. Easier for students to read the vernier scales.

• Cenco Spectrum Tube Power Supply w/Hydrogen tube:

Image courtesy Sargentwelch.com

• Aligning the spectrometer is very time consuming! It takes about 30 minutes per spectrometer for alignment. ~3 hours to align 7 spectrometers!
• The instruction manual for the spectrometers is kept with the spectrometers. They provide detailed – if not entirely understandable – instructions for aligning the spectrometer. I created this document (updated 30 March 2009) which has more explicit instructions and photos.
• Actual values:
  • d = 3333.3 nm
    • Hα = 656 nm
    • Hβ = 486 nm
    • Hγ = 434 nm
    • Hδ = 410 nm