Spectroscopy

Helpful Pre-requisite projects:
               Electromagnetic waves
              Blackbody Radiation and What the Stars Tell Us


Written by: Kathy Gustavson, July 2016
Grade (Age) Levels: High School (14-18+)
Topics:  Different types of spectra. History of spectral analysis. Energy level diagrams and equation. Spectral analysis of electromagnetic waves from space.

Summary: The spectrum of an object is a graph of the intensity of radiation vs wavelength. A blackbody will give a continuous spectrum. But what causes the lines in the other types of spectra? Can these lines help in the understanding of the properties of the matter responsible for the various spectra?