Spectroscopy Cart
Safety Warnings
Warning: High Voltage in Gas Discharge Tubes
Purpose
Students view discrete emission line spectra from multiple gas discharge tubes using handheld diffraction gratings. Provides direct visual evidence for quantized energy levels and element-specific spectral fingerprints.
Figure 1:
The spectroscopy cart with all tubes illuminated. The direct light from each tube is visible on the left; the diffracted spectra appear to the right, showing discrete lines (gas tubes) and continuous spectra (incandescent and fluorescent sources).
Figure 2:
The spectroscopy cart in room lighting. Discharge tubes are mounted vertically on a black pole. Standard configuration from bottom to top: hydrogen, helium, incandescent white, fluorescent white, and neon, with an interchangeable top tube.