University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Spectral Lines
Several pages from an excellent site which describe the science of spectroscopy. The unique atomic emission (and absorption) line spectrum of elements are illustrated and explained. Includes a Java applet depicting the quantum energy...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Quantum Atom
Several pages with an interesting discussion of the visible light spectrum and atomic absorption and emission line spectrum. Features excellent graphics, thorough and understandable discussion, and many interactive Java applets.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Physics/light
Here is a large collection of simple science class activities for understanding the physics of light.
NASA
Nasa: Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum: Visible Light
Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves we can see. We see these waves as the colors of the rainbow. Each color has a different wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength. When all...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Hydrogen Energies and Spectrum
This site from Georgia State University gives information on the transitions of electrons between energy levels. The energy levels for electrons in the hydrogen atom are discussed. The Rydberg equation is stated and electron transitions...
NASA
Nasa: Spitzer Science Center: Code of Faraway Worlds
Under the heading, "Cracking the Code of Faraway Worlds" this site explores the uses of spectrum (and spectrograph, spectra) in planetary study. In addition to an image, a description of spectrum and its uses in space science is provided.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: About Rainbows
This site from the University Corporation of Atmospheric Research provides an illustrated article about the phenomenon of rainbows.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Balmer's Formula
A short description of a physics lab involving the determination of the wavelength of the four spectral lines in the hydrogen emission spectrum. Perhaps the most important part of the page is the picture of the spectrometer.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Temperature and Absolute Zero
A thorough, multipage discussion of color and color television sets that explains how an image is formed on the television using red, green, and blue light. Understandable discussion, excellent graphics, and many interactive Java applets.
Ministerio de Educación (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion: Espectros Estelares Modulo Ii Unidad 2
In this module you will study the composition of stars. You also will be able to classify them through the virtual observatory.
Simon Fraser University
Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Spectra and Interaction of Light and Matter
Acting as a subtopic of the General Chemistry Virtual Textbook's section on Atoms and the Periodic Table, this site discusses continuous spectra and line spectra using examples and charts to assist in the understanding.
Friesian School
Proceedings of the Friesian School/the Quantacized Atom
A very lengthy page from friesian.com discussing Bohr's theory of electronic energy levels and the explanation of commonly observed atomic emission line spectra. The concept of a photon and Einstein's observation of the photoelectric...
Other
Physics and Psychophysics of Music
This site is filled with information pertaining to the physics of sound and music.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Stellar Fingerprints: The Spectra of Stars
Identify the composition of stars by applying the ideas of quantum theory. Investigate the field of spectroscopy, and examine the spectra of stars to locate the emission and absorption lines of hydrogen.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Cd Spectroscope
Analyze light by creating a CD spectroscope in this activity. See the whole spectrum of light with the spectroscope.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Graphing the Rainbow
Students are introduced to different ways of displaying visual spectra, including colored "barcode" spectra, like those produced by a diffraction grating, and line plots displaying intensity versus color, or wavelength. Students learn...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Using Spectral Data to Explore Saturn and Titan
Students use authentic spectral data from the Cassini mission of Saturn and Saturn's moon, Titan, gathered by instrumentation developed by engineers. Taking these unknown data, and comparing it with known data, students determine the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Using a Fancy Spectrograph
Students use the spectrograph from the "Building a Fancy Spectrograph" activity to gather data about different light sources. Using the data, they make comparisons between the light sources and make conjectures about the composition of...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: A Spectral Mystery
Students use the spectrograph from the "Building a Fancy Spectrograph" activity to gather data about light sources. Using their data, they make comparisons between different light sources and make conjectures about the composition of a...
NASA
Nasa: Mission: Science: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Infrared Waves
Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that range from red light to violet.
Educaplus (Jesús Peñas Cano)
Educaplus: La Luz
What do you know about light? Learn about it through this interactive site. At the end you can take a test to test your knowledge. A scientific calculator is also provided.
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill Companies: Origins of the Quantum Theory
An indexing page for Chapter 27 (Origins of the Quantum Theory) of the companion web site for McGraw Hill's Contemporary College Physics textbook. Includes several worthy pages with chapter notes, simple definitions, online computer...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Infrared and Ultraviolet/visible Spectroscopy Questions
Practice questions over infrared and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy questions.
York University
York University: Color and Color Vision
York University provides an index page to several other pages on the topic of color and color vision. The pages are part of an online "book." Many graphics and explanations.