- #1
- 28
- 1
We have an advanced spectrometer in our geometrical optics lab! I'm seeking for any experiment in geometrical optics to include it!
This spectrometer is useful for looking at atomic and molecular spectra. A very nice experiment would be to examine the spectrum of a propane or butane flame. The blue color of the flame is primarily due to emission from electronically excited C2. The major structure in the spectrum is due to the quantization of vibration in the excited and ground electronic states. c.f. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_bandWe have an advanced spectrometer in our geometrical optics lab! I'm seeking for any experiment in geometrical optics to include it!
I see. The only thing that I can think of is to do some work measuring refractive indices of materials (Snell's Law). With a small set of laser pointers, you could measure the change in refractive index as a function of wavelength (dispersion curves) for some simple solid materials. If you have a "water prism" you could also measure this for some pure liquids.Thank you for answer.
There's many application for it in wave optics. More, I'm asking for experiment in geometrical optics field for freshmen!
Strictly speaking, I don't see how this is possible- geometrical optics is wavelength independent, and chromatic aberrations are likely beyond what you are thinking.We have an advanced spectrometer in our geometrical optics lab! I'm seeking for any experiment in geometrical optics to include it!
Instead of using Snell's Law directly, try using the minimum deviation angle of a prism. While watching a spectrum line through the viewing telescope, rotate the prism. You should be able to see the line move back and forth across your field of view, and locate the extreme angle in one direction.measuring refractive indices of materials (Snell's Law)