Lab 5: Summary Questions

Composite image of the Earth at night

A composite image of the Earth at night

These questions refer to the sodium lamp and incandescent lamp located in the storage room.

Slide the optical cable into the end of the incandescent lamp (tube).  Make sure the monochromator is set at 460 nm.  Using your eyes as detectors look at the exit of the monochromator and dial through the wavelengths up to 700 nm.  Is the spectrum continuous or discrete?

Now aim the optical cable at the sodium lamp. Make sure the monochromator is reset to 460 nm. Using your eyes as detectors look at the exit of the monochromator and again dial through the wavelengths up to 700 nm.  Is the spectrum continuous or discrete?  If it is discrete, at how many wavelengths is there light?

  • Based on your observations, why do you think that astronomers who are viewing space from earth prefer sodium streetlights?

Background Equipment Data Collection and Analysis

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