ARC SPECTRUM

AIM
To photograph the arc spectrum of Iron and Brass and identify the spectral lines

APPARATUS
Constant deviation spectrometer, power supply, sharpened rods of iron & brass,
imaging system.

THEORY AND PROCEDURE

Arc spectrum is a spectrum formed form light produced by an electric arc,
characteristic of the gas or vapor through which the arc passes. In the experiment a
high potential difference is applied across the sharpened metal tips. This results in
vaporization of metal atoms which as a result undergo electronic excitation. This
results in an arc discharge. The emission spectra is obtained and analyzed.
Hartmanns constants were calculated using mercury lamp as the reference. The
characteristic wavelengths were determined using this and the relative deviations in
metal spectra.
Hartmanns constants are:

OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS

MERCURY SPECTRUM

Profile for Hg spectrum

First peak Yellow light, Second peak Green light, Third peak Blue light
Color
Yellow
Green
Blue

Wavelength(nm)
578.2
546.1
435

d(cm)
.238
1.693
5.265

C = 927.61*10^-9
B = 8.5* 10^-8 m^2 , A =.24 m

BRASS SPECTRUM

Profile of brass spectrum

Color

d(pixel)

d(cm)

ellow
Green
Blue 1
Blue 2
Blue 3

142
181
290
311
328

3.76
4.79
7.67
8.23
8.68

Wavelength(n
m)
507.65
480.24
396.36
396.36
360.94

IRON SPECTRUM

Color
Green 1
Green 2
Blue 1
Blue 2

d(pixel)
32
69
198
206

d(cm)
.85
1.82
5.24
5.45

Wavelength(nm)
558.04
541.25
480.24
455.39

LASER BEAM AGAINST Hg SPECTRUM

The laser beam is in the red wavelength region as expected and in no other
wavelength region. This verifies the monochromatic nature of LASER. The wave
length of the laser is found to be 645 nm, which is close to the actual value of 650
nm.

RESULT
The spectral lines of iron and brass were photographed and the prominent
emission wavelengths calculated using Hartmans constants.