Grating Spectrometer

Tuana Arat, Perihan Gummadova

16 May 2024

Abstract
This experiment aims to measure the wavelengths emitted from an
unknown gas discharge lamp. A proper set up of Collimator, Grating,
and Telescope was constructed. Firstly, in order to make accurate mea-
surements, we made sure that the Collimator is aligned with the telescope
and we can see an image of slit, at the central maximum (m = 0). Sec-
ondly, we rotated the telescope clockwise, and recorded the angles of each
spectral line, by positioning it to the cross wire of the telescope. Simi-
larly,we repeated the same steps for a counterclockwise rotation. Finally,
the measurements were recorded and wavelengths of each specific spectral
line was calculated. Additionally,it was found that the gas discharge lamp
used in this experiment was Mercury.

1 Introduction
Grating Spectroscopy is a way to get a spectrum by diffraction other than using
a prism for diffraction. Here we use a grating including a plane with slits. that
when the light passes through it gets diffracted and we can see the spectrum.
The setup is as below:

Figure 1: The spectroscope’s set up

A grating spectrometer works with a transmission diffraction grating with

many slits parallel close to each other. When a polychromatic light goes through
the grating, we observe interference and diffraction which gives out a specific

1
pattern of spectral lines with colors. Each color, or wavelength that is in the
incident polychromatic light, causes a specific diffraction angle which enables
us to analyze wavelengths.
We adjusted the experiment set-up equipment, observed the various spectral
lines noted down the corresponding angles, and calculated the wavelengths by
the general equations. We compared our values as theorized and practical values
and we tried finding the spectrometer’s resolving power.
Diffraction angle θ as shown in the previous figure, is special for each color,
wavelgnth that we see that are all found in the original light source. The con-
nection of all the other parameters like N- number of slits in the grating and a-
the slit width and d- slit spacing, the distribution of intensity according to each
wavelength is :
sinβ 2 sinN α 2
I(θ) = I0 ( ) ( ) (1)
β sinα
where I0 is the initial intensity, like when θ= 0. Where, the α and β are :
πa
β= sinθ (2)
λ

πd
α= sinθ (3)
λ
where, d is the distance btw adjacent slits and a is the width of the slits.
and according to the angle related issues, the maxima will appear int he
places that satisfy:

dsinθ = mλ (4)
where m is all the positive and negative integers including zero.
however, the diffraction minima will occur at

asinθ = mλ (5)

where m is all the positive and negative integers but the zero.

Figure 2: The spectroscope’s set up

2
 How we did this experiment is that, we took the spectrometer set up over-
all and adjusted ina way that we see the parallel light and as white kind of.
and then we put the grating and then we started to rotate the telescope and
stopped at the points where we saw various colors(wavelengths) and measured
the corresponding angles.

2 Data & Results

2.1 part A
colour clockwise counterclockwise average λ(calculated) λ(literature) error (percentage)
violet 14 320 167 382.41 404.6 5.48
violet 15.5 315 165.25 432.82 407.8 6.13
Blue 16 313 164.5 454.30 435.8 4.24
Blue-Green 18 305 161.5 539.41 491.6 9.72
Green 18.5 302.14 160.32 572.50 546.1 4.83
orange 19.5 299.98 159.74 588.67 577.0 2.02
orange 20 299.30 159.65 591.18 579.1 2.08

Calculations for average angle:

θa verage = θ( clockwise) + θ( counterclockwise)/2
violet :14+320/2=167
violet :15.5+315/2=165.25
Blue :16+313/2=164.5
Blue − green :18+305/2=161.5
Green :18.5+302.14/2=160.32
Orange :19.5+299.98/2=159.74
Orange :20+299.30/2=159.65

Calculations for wavelength:

dsinθ = mλ
where, d = 1/600.103 = (1.7)10− 6
violet: λ = sin(167)(1.7)10− 6 = 382.41(nm)
violet: λ = sin(165.25)(1.7)10− 6 = 432.82(nm)
Blue: λ = sin(164.5)(1.7)10− 6 = 454.30(nm)
Blue-green: λ = sin(161.5)(1.7)10− 6 = 539.41(nm)
Green: λ = sin(160.25)(1.7)10− 6 = 572.50(nm)
Orange: λ = sin(159.74)(1.7)10− 6 = 588.67(nm)
Orange: λ = sin(159.65)(1.7)10− 6 = 591.18(nm)

3
Error in percentage:

|λliterature − λcalculated|
× 100%
λliterature

Violet:  
404.6 − 382.41
× 100% = 5.48%
404.6
Violet:  
407.8 − 432.82
× 100% = 6.13%
407.8
Blue:  
435.8 − 454.30
× 100% = 4.24%
435.8
Blue-green:  
491.6 − 539.41
× 100% = 9.72%
491.6
Green:  
546.1 − 572.50
× 100% = 4.83%
546.1
Orange:  
577.0 − 588.67
× 100% = 2.02%
577.0
Orange:  
579.1 − 591.18
× 100% = 2.08%
579.1

Q4. Define the resolving power for grating spectrometers.

The resolving power of a grating spectrometer shows how well the splitting of
the light takes place. It shows how well a grating can differentiate between two
shades of a similar colour. Therefore, while calculating the resolving power,
the wavelengths which have the smallest difference are selected. In order to
calculate it the following relation is used:
λ
R= = mN (6)
∆λ
where,
m= the order of spectrum
N = total number of slits

Q5. Calculate the theoretical resolving power of the grating spectrometer you
have used in first, second, and third order.
since,

4
N = 1/d
N = 1/(1.7)10− 6
N = 588235
m = 1:
mN = 588235
m = 2:
mN = 2 ∗ 588235 = 1176470
m = 3:
mN = 3 ∗ 588235 = 1764705
Q6. What is the wavelength difference between two adjacent spectral lines that
this spectrometer theoretically can resolve near the 500 nm wavelength region?
λ=588.67+591.18/2=589.93
∆λ=591.18-588.67=2.51
R = 589.93
2.51 = 253.03(nm)

3 Discussion & Conclusion

While setting the spectroscopy setup and also doing the measurements, poten-
tial errors are prone to exist hence we are humans and we are involved in it.
One of the existence of these potentials is the alignment or positioning of the
discharge lamp, telescope, and collimator. The wrong alignment of these can
actually cause errors directly because they affect the measurement of our angles
when rotating the telescope hence we are dealing with a really small measure-
ment of distance. Upon this, the Vernier scale itself is a bit complicated to the
human eyes, so when getting the numbers, there is a high potential of wrong
details in the decimals. Other than these, the width of the grating slit and the
distance between them is also imperfect and can affect the diffraction pattern.
When setting up and measuring, some approximations were necessary like as-
suming the grating’s slit distance and width are uniform, and also the angle-
related issue, for example considering that:

sinθ ≈ θ (7)

in radians where this is only for small angles but the larger angles. which directly
affects the accuracy of our values obtained.
About the discrepancies, the Verneier scale is related, even tho bits of deci-
mals, cause big changes. for example, when we take the angle as 14.5 degrees.
the wavelength appears out to be 400nm, if 15 degrees, the wavelength becomes
550nm. Decimal places are so important, however, reading the vernier scale is
hard and potential of error. That is why we had some errors because of the
vernier scale precision
In Conclusion, through this experiment, we learn deeper about the diffrac-
tion through slits and the interference patterns resulting from it with the help
of a grating spectroscopy setup. Although we had approximations and potential
errors, the values we obtained for the spectral lines were aligned with the lamp

5
that we used. The experiment measurement we had actually represents the im-
portance of the data in terms of precision and how can it affect the values. By
doing this experiment, we gained a lot of information and experience about the
interference through diffraction through many slits via grating slits.

4 Reference
[1] Hasanli,(2014). Optical Activity, Experiment OW-8. In: PHYS 222 Optics
and Waves Labrotory Manual. METU.

[2] Wikipedia Contributors, (2024, February 6).Optical spectrometer. Wikipedia,

Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_spectrometer

‌[3] (2024). Wikimedia.org. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/

9/91/Spectrometer.svg.jpg [4] METU Physics Department, (2024). Grating
Spectrometer Experiment, Experiment OW-5. In: PHYS 222 Optics and Waves
Laboratory Manual. METU.

5 Extra credit
One of the real-life applications of the grating spectrometer is the field of astron-
omy. It is used to analyze the chemical composition of the emissions from the
unknown stars and planets. To accomplish this, a plane diffraction grating is
used and the light is split into a spectrum. The spectral lines are then analyzed
and studied, which helps to find out the elements that cause these spectral lines.
Some of these lines are hydrogen alpha, beta, and gamma. This information is
obtained by the bright fringes of the spectrum; however, the dark fringes of the
spectrum also help to study the unknown compositions present in cosmology.
For instance, when light passes through a cloud of gas, and is partially absorbed
by the gas, causes some absorption lines. These lines can, in fact, be studied
and help us to figure out the composition of the cloud of gas.

Figure 3: Grating spectrometer setup