Mercury Lamp with Power Supply on Small Optics Rail
Spectral Lines

 

Code Number: 7B10.20

Demo Title: Spectral Lines/Spectroscopy - Mercury Emission Lines

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Spectra of Various Gases, Spectral Lines of Elements

Area of Study: Modern Physics, Optics, Astronomy

Equipment: 

Mercury Projection Unit: Mercury Lamp with Power Supply on Small Optics Rail.

Procedure:

See also: 7B10.20 in Astronomy.

The mercury spectrum should be set up as shown. The mercury source will take at least 5 minutes warm-up.

The wavelengths of the main lines of mercury are:

Violet = 436 nm,

Green = 546 nm,

Yellow = 577 nm & 579 nm (this is actually 2 lines),

Red = 691 nm.

References:

  • James Lincoln, "UV Light Revealed", TPT, Vol. 54, #4, Apr. 2016, p. 256.
  • Nocholas R. Guilbert, "Shedding Some Light on Fluorescent Bulb", TPT, Vol. 34, #1, Jan. 1996, p. 20.
  • "S-180: Concave Reflection Grating", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Doug Balmer, "Identifying Mercury in Fluorescent Light Bulbs", The Caliper, Vernier Software & Technology, Fall 2017, p. 6.
  • "20, Mercury Line Spectrum With a Diffraction Grating", Experiments in Optics, Part 1, J. Klinger Scientific Apparatus Corp., Bulletin 101.
  • "17, Mercury Line Spectrum With a Prism", Experiments in Optics, Part 1, J. Klinger Scientific Apparatus Corp., Bulletin 101.
  • D. Tattersfield, "7.23, The Spectrum of a Fluorescent Mercury Vapour Lamp", Project & Demonstrations in Astronomy, p.162.