Physics 4C plLam: Color and Spectra

Statement of Purpose
To see individual wavelengths of white light through a diffraction grating.

Procedure

The L-shape allows us to use pythagorean theorem.

Picture of the spectrum taken by the phone.

Data

With hydrogen light,

$\%error_{\lambda h}= \frac{|\lambda_{havg}-\lambda_{htheo}|}{\lambda_{htheo}}*\% 100 = \%.35$

$\%error_{\lambda m}= \frac{|\lambda_{mavg}-\lambda_{mtheo}|}{\lambda_{mtheo}}* 100\% = .68\%$

$\%error_{\lambda l}= \frac{|\lambda_{lavg}-\lambda_{ltheo}|}{\lambda_{ltheo}}* 100\% = .31\%$

Conclusion
The hydrogen light showed discrete wavelengths whereas the white light showed a continuous spectrum of wavelengths.

Physics 4C plLam