Middle School Inquiry Lab on Electromagnetic Spectrum
In this lab students will use spectroscopes or diffraction gratings to observe spectral lines of different types of light sources. They will relate this process to how astronomers determine the compositions of stars.
Each inquiry lab will contain an essential question that will drive the lesson and make students think. For this lesson, the essential question is:
- How do astronomers use the different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the composition of stars?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND MATERIALS LIST:
Students will begin the lab by reading the essential question and background information. This can be done individually, as lab groups, or as a whole class. If you consider lab groups, you also might include some type of whole class formative checks before digging into the lab.
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Materials List:
- Spectroscope or Diffraction Grating
- Reference Emission Spectra Page
- light sources (provided by teacher)
- colored pencils
PROCEDURE:
For this lab, students place a spectroscope or diffraction grating over their eyes and observe spectral lines. Students will draw the patterns they see and will have to identify the type of light pattern and elements they are looking at.
Students can make their own spectroscopes or you can buy diffraction gratings that work just as well. If you have any of those fun spectral glasses, that would add additional interest to the lab.
You might want to consider bringing in some extra light sources on the day of this lab. Review the electromagnetic spectrum with students before doing this lab.
CONCLUSION
Students will go back to the essential question and write a CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) to conclude the lab. Once completed, students will reflect back on their learning by answering the following questions:
- Name two types of waves that are on the electromagnetic spectrum that we can’t see with our eyes.
- What does a spectroscope do?
MODIFIED AND INDEPENDENT INQUIRY VERSIONS
All of the Kesler Science inquiry labs come with three different modification levels. Each lab is differentiated using the icons below.
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
TEKS: 8.8C – Identify how different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum such as light and radio waves are used to gain information about components in the universe.
