# Brackett Series - Excel sheet

1. Feb 25, 2014

### ZedCar

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I want to produce a simple Excel sheet to calculate the wavelengths of H atom transitions and calculate, in nm, the first 4 lines of the Brackett series.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Attempt at Excel sheet attached.

#### Attached Files:

• ###### Brackett.xlsx
File size:
28.6 KB
Views:
250
2. Feb 25, 2014

### Staff: Mentor

There is so much wrong here, I don't know where to start! You need to read up about using formulas in Excel.

For one thing, there are no "variables", but rather cell addresses. For example, to use the value of R, which you put in cell C2, you need to reference it with $C$2 (the dollar signs mean that neither C nor 2 will change when you copy the cell, it is an absolute address). Another example, in G4, to use the value of n, you reference $E4. There is no dollar sign in front of the 4 because you want the formula in G5 to read$E5 instead.

Also, why do you take n0 as 5? Why do you have a n-1 in the formula?

3. Feb 25, 2014

### ZedCar

n0 should be 4.

I used n-1 in the formula to represent n' as in the Rydberg formula. n' being 1 less than n.

4. Feb 25, 2014

### asdf12312

But isn't n' a fixed value? looking at the table in bottom right.. n' = 4 doesn't change does it.