Public Lab Research note


by cosettespafford | December 30, 2015 22:13 | 48 views | 2 comments | #12551 | 48 views | 2 comments | #12551 30 Dec 22:13

What I want to do

Use my spectrometer to test cooking ingredients

My attempt and results

Questions and next steps

Why is the diffraction grating set back 60 degrees and the camera mounting block set back 45 degrees?

Why I'm interested

This is my project for a Chemistry science fair



Some experiments suggested that viewing the spectrum at a slight angle (from perpendicular to the grating) produced a clearer image of the diffraction pattern. Some of those experiments are described here: These experiments involved viewing the diffraction pattern with your eye, not with a camera. I don't know whether it has been determined that it makes any difference when photographing the diffraction pattern. Also, angling the camera relative to the grating might be important for centering the visible spectrum in the camera frame as noted here:


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Thank you, Chris! Your explanation really helped!


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