- #1
mainzelmadchen
- 5
- 0
Homework Statement
For our lab, we looked through the spectrometer to find the spectral values for Helium, which after being plugged into an excel spreadsheet, yielded an equation which I could use to find the wavelengths for Hydrogen. We were told to solve for R, which I did. However, at the end, all of my values have a 99.9% error! Even when I use my professor's wavelength values, I do not get the actual value of R = 1.10x10^-7 m-1. Am I calculating this wrong? My professor's wavelength values for #1,2,&3 respectively are 675, 450, & 415 nm.
Homework Equations
1/λ = R ((1/2^2)-(1/ninitial^2))
The Attempt at a Solution
1) 1/748.60606 nm = R ((1/2^2)-(1/3^2)); 0.0013358161 = R ((1/4)-(1/9)); 0.0013358161 = R (0.13888889); R = 0.0096178758 nm x (1 m/1 x 10^9 nm) = 9.6178758 x 10^-12 = 9.6 x 10^-12
2) 1/460.72727 nm = R ((1/2^2)-(1/4^2)); 0.0021704815 = R ((1/4)-(1/16)); 0.0021704815 = R (0.1875); R = 0.011575901 nm x (1 m/1 x 10^9 nm) = 1.1575901 x 10^-11 = 1.2 x 10^-11
3) 1/384.96970 nm= R ((1/2^2)-(1/6^2)); 0.0025976070 = R ((1/4)-(1/36)); 0.0025976070 = R (0.22222222); R = 0.011689232 nm x (1 m/1 x 10^9 nm) = 1.1689232 x 10^-11 = 1.2 x 10^-11