A student investigates the spectrum produced by visible light - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 1 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 1
A student investigates the spectrum produced by visible light.
The diagram shows some of the equipment she uses:
[Image reference to equipment showing a beam of lig... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student investigates the spectrum produced by visible light - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 1 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe the experiment setup.
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Answer
The student uses a light source to emit visible light, which travels as a beam toward a screen. It is important to ensure that the light source is stable and that the beam is directed accurately toward the screen for clear observation of the spectrum.
Step 2
Explain how to observe the spectrum.
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Answer
To observe the spectrum, a prism or diffraction grating may be placed in the path of the beam of light. This will refract or diffract the light, dispersing it into its component colors, creating a spectrum that can be viewed on the screen.