PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT

SPECTROSCOP
Y
Ayesha Wasif
12C
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement...........................................................................................3

Introduction.....................................................................................................4

What is Spectroscopy?..................................................................................4

Types of Spectra...........................................................................................5

Uses of Spectroscopy....................................................................................6

What is a Spectrometer and how does it work?............................................9

Basic Layout...............................................................................................9

Function......................................................................................................9

Derivation of Minimum Angle of Deviation formula.......................................10

Hypothesis.....................................................................................................11

Experiment....................................................................................................12

Graph.............................................................................................................15

Conclusion.....................................................................................................16

Bibliography...................................................................................................17
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my teammates Amrita Saha,
Aysha Ismail and Ayesha Wasif, for their dedication, collaboration, and hard
work throughout this project. Their insights and commitment were invaluable
to our success.

A special thanks to our teacher, Ms. Jessi Mathhew, for her guidance,
support, and encouragement. Your expertise and passion for physics inspired
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us to delve deeper into the subject, making this project an enriching learning
experience.

I am also grateful to the school, GEMS Our Own English High School, for
providing the resources and environment necessary to carry out this project.
The knowledge and skills gained through this endeavor have deepened my
understanding of spectroscopy and have been instrumental in fostering my
passion for physics.

Thank you all for making this journey both educational and memorable.

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS SPECTROSCOPY?

Spectroscopy is a scientific technique used to analyze and interpret the

interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It plays a crucial
role in understanding the composition, structure, and properties of various
materials. The basic principle of spectroscopy involves passing light or other
forms of electromagnetic radiation through a sample and then studying how
the material absorbs, emits, or scatters this radiation.
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The spectrum produced, which can be visualized as a series of lines or

bands, provides unique information about the substance being studied. Each
element or molecule has a distinct spectral fingerprint, allowing scientists to
identify and quantify it with high precision.

There are various types of spectroscopies, including absorption, emission,

and scattering spectroscopy, each focusing on different interactions. For
example, in absorption spectroscopy, the amount of light absorbed at
specific wavelengths reveals details about the electronic structure of the
atoms or molecules. Emission spectroscopy, on the other hand, examines the
light emitted by a substance, often after it has been excited by energy.

Spectroscopy is widely used in fields such as chemistry, physics, astronomy,

and biology. It is instrumental in applications ranging from analyzing
chemical compounds and detecting environmental pollutants to exploring
distant stars and galaxies.

TYPES OF SPECTRA

CONTINUOUS SPECTRUM:
Newton noted that the sun produced seven different colors. Therefore, light
from the sun or any star produces a continuous spectrum.

Such a spectrum features a seamless range of wavelengths without gaps,

emitted by solid, liquid, or densely packed gases heated to high
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temperatures. It displays a smooth gradient of colors, covering the entire

visible spectrum.

EMISSION LINE SPECTRUM:

If, instead of looking at the sun, we were to look at the spectrum of an object
like Messier 42 (Orion Nebula), we would notice a very different kind of
spectrum.

Produced by excited atoms or molecules, an emission line spectrum consists

of discrete lines at specific wavelengths. Each line represents a transition
between energy levels in an atom, resulting in a series of bright lines on a
dark background.

ABSORPTION LINE SPECTRUM:

Formed when light passes through a cooler, dilute gas, this spectrum shows
dark lines superimposed on a continuous spectrum. The dark lines
correspond to wavelengths absorbed by the gas, revealing the elements
present.

USES OF SPECTROSCOPY

Spectroscopy is a powerful technique used in various scientific fields to

analyze the interaction between light and matter. Here are some of its key
applications:

CHEMISTRY:
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 Identification of Compounds: Spectroscopy helps identify

chemical compounds based on their unique absorption, emission, or
scattering spectra.
 Quantitative Analysis: Measures the concentration of substances in
a sample by analyzing the intensity of specific spectral lines.

ASTRONOMY:
 Stellar and Planetary Analysis: Determines the composition,
temperature, density, and motion of celestial objects by studying the
light they emit or absorb.
 Redshift and Blueshift Measurements: Assesses the velocity of
astronomical objects relative to Earth, providing insights into the
expansion of the universe.

PHYSICS:
 Atomic and Molecular Structure: Provides information about the
electronic structure of atoms and molecules, including energy levels
and transitions.
 Material Properties: Investigates properties of materials such as
band gaps in semiconductors and magnetic properties.

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE:

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 Structural Biology: Analyzes the structure of biological

macromolecules like proteins and DNA using techniques such as X-
ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy.
 Medical Diagnostics: Used in techniques like MRI (Magnetic
Resonance Imaging) and spectroscopy-based assays for detecting
diseases and monitoring health.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE:
 Pollutant Detection: Monitors environmental pollutants in air,
water, and soil by analyzing their spectral signatures.
 Climate Studies: Measures atmospheric gases and aerosols to
understand climate change and weather patterns.

MATERIAL SCIENCE:
 Characterization of Materials: Determines the composition and
properties of materials, including polymers, nanomaterials, and
composites.
 Quality Control: Ensures the consistency and quality of
manufactured materials and products.

FORENSIC SCIENCE:
 Evidence Analysis: Identifies substances in forensic samples, such
as drugs, explosives, and trace evidence, by analyzing their spectral
characteristics.
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PHARMACEUTICALS:
 Drug Development: Assists in the design and testing of new drugs
by analyzing their structure and interactions.
 Quality Assurance: Ensures the purity and consistency of
pharmaceutical products through spectroscopic methods.

Overall, spectroscopy provides essential insights across a range of disciplines

by revealing detailed information about the composition, structure, and
dynamics of matter.

WHAT IS A SPECTROMETER AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

A spectrometer is an instrument used to measure the properties of light over

a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. By analyzing the
resulting spectrum, a spectrometer can identify the composition,
concentration, and physical properties of a sample.

Two types of radiation sources are generally employed in a spectrometer-

continuous and line sources. Continuous sources are heated solid
substances or lamps that emit a broad range of wavelengths, producing a
continuous spectrum, while line sources are specialized lamps and lasers
that emit specific wavelengths, resulting in distinct, discrete lines in the
spectrum.

BASIC LAYOUT
A basic spectrometer consists of several key components: a light source
that provides the initial beam of light, which can be continuous or from a
specific wavelength. This light passes through a collimator, which narrows
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and aligns the beam into a parallel form. The dispersed light then encounters
a dispersion element, such as a prism or diffraction grating, which
separates it into its constituent wavelengths, creating a spectrum. The
spectrum is then detected by a detector, such as a photodiode or CCD
sensor, which measures the intensity of light at each wavelength. Finally, a
readout system displays the spectral data for analysis.

FUNCTION
The basic function of a spectrometer is to take in light, break it into its
spectral components, digitize the signal as a function of wavelength, and
read it out and display it through a computer. When samples are loaded into
spectrometers, the high temperature of the machine vaporizes the tiny
sample and light is refracted according to the composition of the substance
being tested. In the case of using spectrometers for astronomical purposes,
incoming wavelengths and frequencies from space are analyzed in a similar
fashion to determine the composition of celestial matter.

DERIVATION OF MINIMUM ANGLE OF DEVIATION FORMULA

Consider we have a glass prism, having an angle of prism A, i1 is the incident

ray striking AB, i2 is the ray leaving through AC, and r1 and r2 are the
respected refracted rays.

In the minimum deviation position,

∠i1=∠i2

So,
∠r1=∠r2=∠r
∠ALM = ∠LMA = 90° - ∠r

∠ A=∠ r 1+∠ r 2

So,
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A=2r (for minimum deviation, ∠r1=∠r2 = ∠r)

r = A/2

i1+i1= A + δ m (for minimum deviation, i1=i2 and δ = δ m)

2i1 = A + δ m
A +δm
i1 = 2

sin i1
μ=
sin r 1

μ=
sin
[ ( A +δm )
2 ]
sin ( )
A
2
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HYPOTHESIS

The hypothesis for this spectrometer experiment is that "wavelength is

inversely proportional to refractive index of different colors of light."

According to the minimum angle of deviation formula, refractive index is

directly proportional to minimum angle of deviation and hence through this
experiment we are going to find out whether wavelength and minimum
angle of deviation are proportional or not. We had predicted the result of the
experiment through the fact that the light with higher wavelength disperses
more than light with lower wavelength. This effect is called optical
dispersion.
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EXPERIMENT

AIM:

To calculate the refractive index of the prism for various wavelengths of the
spectrum and plot the graph between angle of minimum deviation and
wavelength.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:

Spectrometer, prism, mercury vapor lamp, magnifying glass, black blanket.

THEORY:

 The theory of the prism spectrometer indicates that a spectrum of

maximum definition is obtained when the angular deviation of a light
ray passing through the prism is at a minimum. Under such conditions
it can be shown that the ray passes through the prism symmetrically.
 For a given wavelength of light traversing a given prism, there is a
characteristic angle of incidence for which the angle of deviation is a
minimum. This angle depends only on the index of refraction of the
prism and the angle between the two sides of the prism traversed by
the light.
 The relationship between these variables is given by the equation:

n=
[
sin
2]
( A+ δm )
where n is the index of refraction of the prism; δm is the
( )
sin
A
2
angle between the sides of the prism traversed by the light; and is the
angle of minimum deviation. Since n varies with wavelength (i.e., n = n
( λ )), the angle of minimum deviation also varies, but it is constant for
any particular wavelength.
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DIAGRAM

PROCEDURE

 First, the telescope must be focused on distant objects, i.e., infinity,

and this must be maintained until the experiment is over, so as not to
refocus again. Then, the cross wire should be focused by moving the
eyepiece of the telescope.
 Adjust the Collimator such that the image seen in the telescope is
sharp of the slit without the prism.
 Now choose an angle of incidence and with the eye locate
approximately the angle at which the spectrum starts to move in the
opposite direction as the prism table is rotated and lock the prism
table. Now, using the telescope, fix the telescope on one of the
spectrum lines, and then use the fine adjustment for the movement of
prism table to move the table so that we get the precise location of the
angle where the line starts to move in the opposite direction, and note
the angle for this.
 Without disturbing anything, remove the prism and get the measure of
the angle of the direct image of the slit in the telescope. The difference
between these two angles is the angle of minimum deviation δ m for
this spectral line. Repeat the same for all the spectral lines that are
given by the mercury lamp.
 From the above data we can calculate the refractive index n of the
prism for various wavelengths.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

Least Count of vernier scale in a Spectrometer:

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1 MSD
Least Count =
NO . OF DIVISIONS

1
= × 30’
30

= 1’

TABLE
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GRAPH
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CONCLUSION

In the graph of minimum deviation against wavelength the points plotted

show that the curve is almost a straight line showing that the effect of
wavelength on the angle of minimum deviation is almost linear.

From this observation we can conclude that minimum angle of deviation is

inversely proportional to wavelength of different colors of light and since
angle of deviation is directly proportional to refractive index. we can say that
"Wavelength is inversely proportional to Refractive Index". Our hypothesis is
correct.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://sciencing.com/spectrometer-5372347.html https://www.school-for-
champions.com/astronomy/

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=10245

https://thecuriousastronomer.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/thr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4RiczDeLQY