The true colours of white light: hands-on optical spectrometry

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple, low-cost diffraction-based spectrometer that enables students to quantitatively analyze optical spectra, enhancing understanding of physical concepts and measurement uncertainties in physics education.

Contribution

It introduces an easy-to-build, affordable spectrometer design that facilitates hands-on learning and quantitative spectral analysis in physics classrooms.

Findings

Students can build the spectrometer in minutes.

The spectrometer enables quantitative spectral measurements.

It enhances understanding of measurement errors.

Abstract

Although the observation of optical spectra is common practice in physics classes, students are usually limited to a passive, qualitative observation of nice colours. This article discusses a diffraction-based spectrometer that allows students to take quantitative measurements of spectral bands. Students can build it within minutes from generic low-cost materials. The spectrometer's simple, didactic design allows students to fully comprehend the underlying physical concepts and to engage in a discussion on measurement errors and uncertainties.