Question

The following values were obtained using a spectroscope. Looking at a Helium lamp, the experimenter was able to determine the values of 4 color lines: Red, Yellow, Green and Violet. The values obtained are shown in the table below:

Color	Spectroscope Reading (a.u.) (nm)	Known Helium Wavelength
Red	699	706.5
Yellow	574	587.6
Green	511	501.6
Violet	401	388.9

You use the values above to calibrate your spectroscope by plotting a line of the known wavelengths(y) versus the readings obtained(x). What is the equation of the line?
y =________ x + __________.

You use the now calibrated spectroscope to view another unknown light source and are able to determine two distinct color lines orange (Spectroscope reading 613) and yellow (Spectroscope reading 588).

What are the corrected wavelengths for these two readings?
Orange line = _______nm
Yellow Line = _______nm

Answer 1

Plotting the spectroscope reading versus the known helium wavelength, a straight line e mav be obtained curv Spectroscope reading (nm)known helium wavelength 699 574 511 401 706.5 587.6 501.6 388.9 750 700 E 650 E 600 2 550 500 450 a 400 350 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 known helium wavelength A straight line equation is: y = mx+c where, m - Slope of the line y-intercept of the line c Thus, equation of straight line is : y-0.9245 x + 41.335

For orange-line y 613 0.9245 x +41.335 x=618.4 For yellow line: y 588 0.9245 x +41.335 x- 591.3 Therefore, the corrected values of wavelength are Orange line : 618.4 nm Yellow line : 591.3 nm