High School How Can You Safely Observe Bright Light Sources with a DIY Spectroscope?

[DDesulgon]

Hello,
I built myself a spectroscope with a CD (where I removed the coating), similar to this one:
With this I now want to look at light sources. However, some interesting lamps are a bit too bright to comfortably look directly into (through the spectroscope). Does anyone have an idea how to get around this problem?
Thanks!

 

[tech99]

Maybe a narrower slit, which will also improve resolution. It is interesting to look at daylight, fluorescent lamps and the Sodium flame.

 

[DDesulgon]

Thanks for the answer! I have already tried a narrower slit, but in this case the spectrum also becomes quite faint. For me, a slit width of about 1 mm seems to be ideal.

Would it perhaps be a solution to point the bright lamp at a white wall, and look at the illuminated wall through the spectroscope? Or does this change the spectrum?

 

[Andy Resnick]

Thanks for the answer! I have already tried a narrower slit, but in this case the spectrum also becomes quite faint. For me, a slit width of about 1 mm seems to be ideal.

Would it perhaps be a solution to point the bright lamp at a white wall, and look at the illuminated wall through the spectroscope? Or does this change the spectrum?

If the paint is truly white, then no. But any tint that is present will alter the spectral content of scattered light. An alternative to your (reasonable) idea is to tape a blank sheet of (white) paper to the wall.