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Designing a Spectroscopy Mission Lesson PlanDesigning a Spectroscopy Mission Lesson Plan
Publisher
Teach Engineering
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
Science
3 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
4 days
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
1 more...
Technology
Presentation
Internet Access
Year
2008
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Lesson Plan

Designing a Spectroscopy Mission

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Designing a Spectroscopy Mission lesson plan also includes:
  • Designing a Spectroscopy Mission Worksheet
  • Designing a Spectroscopy Mission Worksheet
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In this mind-bending activity, young engineers explore this question of whether or not light actually bends. Using holographic diffraction gratings, groups design and build a spectrograph. The groups then move on research a problem related to solar system spectroscopy and design a mission to address the problem. Presentations of mission designs conclude the activity.

8 Views 4 Downloads
CCSS: Designed

Concepts

spectroscopy, spectrometers, engineering design, electromagnetic spectrum, light, technology resources

Instructional Ideas

  • Use this hands-on activity as part of a light unit
  • Coordinate with the math teacher to use this activity after a study of trigonometric ratios 

Classroom Considerations

  • Activity is dependent upon the Building a Fancy Spectrograph activity
  • Holographic diffraction gratings are needed
  • Knowledge of trigonometry is required

Pros

  • The materials list provides resources in which to indicates materials that need to be purchased
  • nformation provides an explanation of how diffraction gratings work

Cons

  • This is not a stand-alone activity
  • May require mathematical concepts students have not yet learned

Common Core

HSG-MG.A.3

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Designing a Spectroscopy Mission

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Activity

Teach Engineering: Designing a Spectroscopy Mission

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Students find and calculate the angle that light is transmitted through a holographic diffraction grating using trigonometry. After finding this angle, student teams design and build their own spectrographs, researching and designing a...
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Activity

Teach Engineering: Building a Fancy Spectrograph

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Students create and decorate their own spectrographs using simple materials and holographic diffraction gratings. A holographic diffraction grating acts like a prism, showing the visual components of light. After building the...
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Activity

Teach Engineering: Engineering Your Own Spectrograph

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Students use simple materials to design an open spectrograph so they can calculate the angle light is bent when it passes through a holographic diffraction grating. A holographic diffraction grating acts like a prism, showing the visual...
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Interactive

Physics Aviary: Diffraction Lab

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This lab is designed to allow students to look at the factors affecting the angle at which constructive interference occurs for waves passing through a two slit diffraction grating. This video helps explain the problem:...
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Physics Aviary: Emission Spectra Lab

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This lab is designed to allow students to look at the spectra of a handful of elements when light from a glowing sample of those elements travels through a diffraction grating.
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Activity

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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.
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