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Rydberg Constant Measurement in Hydrogen

The document summarizes an experiment to measure the Rydberg constant using a hydrogen discharge lamp and diffraction grating. [1] Students observe the diffraction pattern of light from the hydrogen lamp and measure the angular positions of the bright red line corresponding to the n=3 to n=2 transition. [2] They use the diffraction grating equation to relate the measured angles to the wavelength, from which the Rydberg constant can be calculated. [3] Comparing the measured ionization energy to the true value provides a check of the experimental results.

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Roy Vesey
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74 views3 pages

Rydberg Constant Measurement in Hydrogen

The document summarizes an experiment to measure the Rydberg constant using a hydrogen discharge lamp and diffraction grating. [1] Students observe the diffraction pattern of light from the hydrogen lamp and measure the angular positions of the bright red line corresponding to the n=3 to n=2 transition. [2] They use the diffraction grating equation to relate the measured angles to the wavelength, from which the Rydberg constant can be calculated. [3] Comparing the measured ionization energy to the true value provides a check of the experimental results.

Uploaded by

Roy Vesey
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SSM-E5

SSM-0032 : Particles and Fields of Modern Physics

Practical Session 2, 17th November 2005

Name of Student : .................................

Ask a demonstrator if you are unsure how to use the apparatus.

Hand in answers to Dr.Waters at the end of the session.

The Rydberg Constant

Principle :

The figure below shows the energy level diagram for hydrogen. The electron in the hydrogen atom
can make transitions between the different energy levels and, since the total energy must be
conserved, the energy of the emitted light photon is equal to the difference between the electron
energy levels. If the electron falls from energy level k to energy level j :
hc
Eγ = = Ek − E j
λ
If the hydrogen atom is treated quantum mechanically
€ (for example, in Bohr's model of the
€
hydrogen atom or, equivalently, by solving the Schrödinger equation for the electron in the electric
field of the nucleus), the prediction for the spacing of the energy levels is :
€ 1 1
Ek − E j ∝ 2 − 2 
j k 
Hence,
1 1 1
= R 2 − 2 
€ λ j k 
where R is known as the Rydberg constant.

€
€

1
As indicated in the energy level diagram, transitions to the n = 2 energy level give light frequencies
in the visible region. In particular, the transition 3 → 2 gives rise to easily identifiable red light, the
wavelength of which can be measured using a diffraction grating.
€
Apparatus : €

A hydrogen discharge lamp maintains a population of excited hydrogen atoms that emit light as
they return to their ground state. Light from the lamp is collimated, such that parallel rays are at
normal incidence to the diffraction grating positioned at the centre of the apparatus. A viewing
telescope on a turn-table is used to measure the angular positions of the diffraction fringes.

Procedure :

The apparatus should already have been calibrated and setup such that the grating is normal to the
light from the collimator. View the grating at normal incidence using the telescope. A bright red
line should be visible.

(1)Note the position of the viewing telescope on the Vernier scale when the line is in the centre of
the telescope cross-hairs (the "straight-through" position). You should write down all your angle
measurements in degrees and minutes. Ask a demonstrator if you are unsure how to read a
Vernier scale.

(2)Turn the telescope away from normal incidence. Note the angular positions of the first few red
lines. Repeat the measurements with the telescope on the other side of the straight-through
positions.

2
The data will be analysed using the following formula for the angular positions of bright fringes
from a diffraction grating with line spacing d :
d sinϑ = nλ
The angle ϑ is measured with respect to the normal to the grating and n is the order of the fringe.
The diffraction grating used in this experiment has 300 lines per mm.
€
€
Q1
€ Extract values of sinϑ 1,sin ϑ 2 ,... from your data. €

Q2 Make a graph of sinϑ vs. n using your data. Use the graph to extract a value for the
wavelength λ .

€ €
€

Q3 From the measured wavelength, extract a value for the Rydberg contstant.

Q4 From your value for the Rydberg constant, derive a value for the ionisation energy of
ground state hydrogen. How does this compare with the true value ?

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