PC1144Experiment4

AtomicSpectra
GENTLEREMINDER!
1. Wear proper attire (long pants and shoes) when you come for your practical session.
2. Remember to print out your worksheet and laboratory manual and bring along when you come for your practical
session.
3. Before leaving the laboratory, make sure the demonstrator on duty initial on your data table(s) together with the
date!
4. Submit a complete laboratory report of yours, i.e., laboratory worksheet together with Excel spreadsheet(s) within
ONE week after your laboratory session to level 1 Physics laboratory (S120402) before 5.00 pm daily (check the
above submission deadline). In the event that the above submission deadline falls on a public/school holiday or
you have a medical certificate due to illness, the submission deadline will be the next school day during office
hours (9 am 5 pm).
5. If you fail to submit your report before the deadline, no grade will be given for that report.

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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THEORY

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra

The spectrum from a hot gas of an element consists of discrete

The central ideas of Bohrs theory are contained in a series of four

wavelengths that are characteristics of the element. In 1885, in an

postulates that are stated below:

attempt to understand these spectra, Johann Balmer published an

1. The electron moves in a circular orbits of radius rn around the

empirical relationship that described the visible spectrum of

nucleus under the influence of the Coulomb force between the

hydrogen. Although Balmer published the relationship in a

negative electron and positive nucleus.

somewhat different form, the modern equivalent is

2. The electron of mass m can only have velocity vn and orbits rn

that satisfy the relationship

3, 4, 5, 6, . (Balmers formula)

where RH = 1.097 x 107 m1 is a constant called the Rydberg

constant, stands for the wavelength and n is an integer that takes
on successive values greater than 2.

mrnvn = nh/2
where h = 6.626 x 1034 Js and n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ..., .
3. In an allowed orbit the electron does not radiate energy. The
atom is stable in these orbits and this is called a stationary state.

In 1913, Neils Bohr was able to derive the Balmer relationship by

This postulate was a radical departure from classical physics.

making a series of revolutionary postulates. The Bohr theory was

Classical electromagnetic theory predicts that an electron

historically of great importance in the developments that

moving

eventually led to modern quantum theory. In his attempts to

electromagnetic energy continuously.

in

circle

is

accelerated

and

must

radiate

explain the spectrum of hydrogen, Bohr was influenced by several

4. The atom radiates energy only when an electron makes a

recently developed theories. He incorporated concepts from the

transition from one allowed orbit to another allowed orbit. If Ei

quantum theory of Max Planck, from the photon description of

and Ef stand for the energies of the initial and final stationary

light by Albert Einstein and from the nuclear theory of the atom

states, the energy radiated by the atom is in the form of a

suggested by Ernest Rutherfords particle scattering from gold.

photon of energy hf = Ei Ef where f is the photon frequency.

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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THEORY

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra

With these postulates, it is possible to derive an expression for

the energy of the stationary states. They are given by

with

802

1
2

= 1, 2 , 3, 4, , (Bohrs energy formula).

This expression for allowed energies can be used to obtain values

for 1/ predicted by the Bohr theory. The transitions that produce
photons that correspond to the first four visible Balmer
wavelengths are those from the states n = 3, 4, 5, 6 down to the
n = 2 state. They are
1

802

1
22

In this experiment, we will make use of the dispersive power of

a diffraction grating. A grating is a piece of transparent material

with n = 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Bohrs wavelength formula).

on which has been ruled a large number of equally spaced

Bohr showed that the value of the constant me4/802ch3 was in

parallel lines. The distance between the lines is called grating

excellent agreement with the value of the Rydberg constant in

spacing d.

Balmers formula. This is striking confirmation of the validity of

the Bohr theory of hydrogen. The four wavelengths of the visible
hydrogen spectrum that are easily seen and measured are also in
excellent agreement with the first four wavelengths predicted by

Light that strikes the transparent material is diffracted by the

parallel lines. The diffracted lines passes through the grating at
all angles relative to the original light path.

the above formula.

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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THEORY

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra

If diffracted light rays from adjacent lines on the grating interfere

and are in phase, an image of the light source can be formed.

SafetyPrecautions

Light rays from adjacent lines will be in phase if the rays differ in
path length by an integral number of wavelengths of the light.
The relationship between the wavelength of the light , the
grating spacing d and diffraction angle is as follows:
= d sin

When the power is on,

DO NOT touch the surface of the power supply
DO NOT remove the spectra tube from its housing
DO NOT move the housing
as it is hot and will burn your hand.

In the Figure 1, the path length for Ray A s one wavelength longer
than the path length of Ray B. The grating disperses the beam of
light into a first order spectrum and higher order spectra. The

You must take all the necessary precautions and

follow the instructions closely. If for any reason

higher order spectra are broader and less bright than the first

the

tube

must

order spectra and may overlap. Also, the grating used in this

demonstrator.

be

removed,

call

your

experiment is blazed so one of the spectrum is much brighter

than the other.

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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APPARATUS

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra

ExperimentalSetup

CollimatingLens CollimatingSlits

FocusingLens

SpectrumTubeLamps

ONButton
Base

Figure2:AtomicSpectra
ExperimentalSetup
Tablelamp

RotaryMotionSensor

60cmOpticsBench

BlackCloth

DiffractionGrating
&Holder

1 Investigate how well the visible light

wavelengths of Hydrogen predicted by the
Bohr theory agree with experimental values.

DegreePlate
RotatingArm

ScienceWorkshopInterface

SpectrophotometerTable

Aperture
Screen

Computer

Aperture
Bracket

HighSensitivityLightSensor

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

Objective:

2 Determine an experimental value for the

Rydberg constant from a fit of the measured
values of hydrogen wavelengths to the form
of the Balmer equation.
3 Identify an unknown element by examining
their visible optical spectra.
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PROCEDURE

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra

(A)Setuptheapparatus

1
4c

4e
5
Figure3(a):Topviewof
collimationsetup.

4a

4b

Figure3(b):Spectrallineonthe
ApertureScreenandDisk.

FocusingLens

4d
1 Set up the Spectrophotometer next to a mercury discharge
tube as shown in Figure 3.

2 Use the base provided to raise the spectrophotometer to

the same level as the opening to the light source (see
Figure 2).

3 Switch on the AC outlet before switch on the light source

(see Figure 2 for the light source ON button).

4f

Note: The focal length of the Collimating Lens is about 10cm so

the lens should be positioned about 10cm from the slits. Adjust
the distance between the Collimating Slits and Collimating Lens
so that the beam of light is neither converging nor diverging (i.e.
light rays are parallel).

5 Turn the Aperture Disk so the smallest slit on the disk is in line
with the central ray.

4 Once it is warmed up, adjust (a) the Light Source, (b)

Collimating Slits, (c) Collimating Lens and (d) Focusing Lens
so that clear images of the central ray and the first order
spectral lines appear on (e) the Aperture Disk and (f)
Aperture Screen in front of the (g) High Sensitivity Light
Sensor.

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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PROCEDURE

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra

(B)SetuptheSoftwareInterface
6 SelectCreateExperiment.
Figure4:TheScience
WorkshopInterface

7 SelecttheLightSensortobeconnectedtoAnalogChannel
A.

8 SelecttheRotaryMotionSensortobeconnectedtoDigital
Channel1and2.

1 Connect the High Sensitivity Light Sensor cable to Analog

Channel A.

2 Connect the Rotary Motion Sensor cable to Digital Channel 1

and Channel 2.

3 Connect the Science Workshop interface to the computer and

turn on the interface box.

4 Switch on the computer. Take note the following when login

into the computer: Depending on which computer you are using,
the userid and password are the same and are
either temp1 or tempuser1.

5 LookfortheDataStudioicon

onthedesktopanddouble

clickonittolaunchtheprogram

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

9 SettheRotaryMotionSensorso that

thesamplerateis20Hz.
itmeasuresAngularPosition,Ch1&2(rad).
itrecords1440divisionsperrotation.

10 SettheLightSensorsothatitmeasuresonlytheLightIntensity,
Ch A(%max).UncheckVoltage,ChA (V).

12 Use the experiment calculator in DataStudio to create a

calculation of the actual angular position of the degree plate.
The angular position of the Rotary Motion Sensor must be
divided by the ratio of the radius of the degree plate and the
radius of the small post of the pinion. The ratio is
approximately 60 to 1. To do so,
underdefinition,inputActualAngularPosition=x/60;
undervariables,definex=AngularPosition,Ch1&2(rad).

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PROCEDURE

(B)SetuptheSoftwareInterface
13 Intheprogram,selectagraphdisplayandsetitto

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra

(C)Measurements
Figure5:Scanthespectrum

showLightIntensity(%max)onitsverticalaxis
andActualAngularPositiononitshorizontalaxis
byusingdraganddropmethod.

14 Youarenowreadytocollectdata.

1 Cover the setup with the given cloth to block out the
ambient light.

2 To scan a spectrum, use the threaded post under the Light

Sensor to move the Light Sensor Arm so the Light Sensor
is beyond the far end of the first order spectral lines, but
not in front of any of the spectral lines in the second
order.

3 Set the GAIN select switch on top of the High Sensitivity

Light Sensor to 100. You may use a lower setting if you
find that the signal is too strong.

4 In the DataStudio program, click the start button

to

to begin recording data.

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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PROCEDURE
5 Scanthespectrumcontinuouslybutslowlyinonedirectionby
pushingonthethreadedposttorotatetheDegreePlate.

6 Scan all the way through the first order spectral lines on one
side of the central ray (zeroth order), through the central ray
and all the way through the first order spectral lines on the
other side of the central ray as shown in Figure 5.

7 Clickthestopbuttontostoprecodingdata.
8 You may repeat the scan by setting different light sensor gain
levels or slit widths to obtain the best scan. Your scan should
have at least FOUR spectral lines. Each spectral should also
have its counterpart at the other side of the spectrum.

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra
10 Use the builtin analysis tools in the DataStudio graph

display to find the angle between the two matching

spectral lines. Record the angle as in Data Table 1.

Note: The angle of a particular spectral pattern is onehalf

of the difference of the angle between the chosen spectral
line in the first order on one side of the central ray and the
matching spectral line in the first order on the other side of
the central ray. If a dim spectral line only appears on one
side of the central ray, calculate where the central ray is
using a brighter spectral line than is visible on both sides of
the central ray. Then, determine the angle from the central
ray to the dim line to find the angle for that spectral line.

9 Use the graph display to examine the plot of Light Intensity

versus Actual Position for your data.

MercurySpectrum

Figure6:Measuretheanglesforbothfirstorderspectralpatterns

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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PROCEDURE
11 Cancel all zooms and fix up the graph window so that all data
collected can be seen. Title this graph as Spectrum for
Mercury. Label each spectral line on both sides of the central
peak using the functions available in DataStudio and then print
the graph.

PC1144Experiment4 AtomicSpectra
13 Repeat the procedure for the unknown discharge tube
labeled as A. Record your result in Data 3.

12 Repeat the process for hydrogen light source. Record your

results in Data Table 2. Title the graph as Spectrum for
Hydrogen.
HydrogenSpectrum

DataTable3:UnknownSpectrumA

Level1PhysicsLaboratory(S120402)

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