Chapter 21
Design, Construction and Use
of a Quantitative Spectroscope
for Science Dissemination
Francisco Savall-Alemany, Jesús Carnicer Murillo,
Rocío Espinosa Gutierrez, Esther Perales Romero, and
Hernán A. Supino Graña
Abstract In this work we present a spectroscope that we have constructed for
science dissemination in museums. The materials used are economical and easy to
handle, allowing all attendees in the spectroscopy workshop to build, use and take
home a small but useful spectroscope. We also present the steps followed to
construct it and the STEM activities that are carried out in the museum to learn
how to use it.
21.1 Introduction
Spectroscopy has been a technique of great scientific relevance, practically since its
appearance. It contributed to the discovery of elements as caesium, rubidium or
helium; it was used to determine the composition of the Sun and other celestial
objects, to establish the structure of atoms, etc. Nowadays, its use is common in the
detection of chemical substances or in the study of celestial objects, among many
other applications. In addition, since the popularization of LEDs as a light source,
several studies have been carried out which highlight their impact on the reconciliation of sleep, an effect that is related to the spectre of the light they emit (Gooley
et al. 2011). Despite its scientific importance, our experience shows us that it is
F. Savall-Alemany (*)
Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
J. Carnicer Murillo · H. A. Supino Graña
Museo Didáctico e Interactivo de Ciencias de la Vega Baja del Segura de la Comunitat
Valenciana (MUDIC-VBS-CV), Alicante, Spain
R. Espinosa Gutierrez
Stowmarket High School, Stowmarket, UK
E. Perales Romero
Grupo de Visión y Color, Departamento de Óptica, Farmacología y Anatomía, I. U. Física
Aplicada a las Ciencias y la Tecnología (IUFACyT), Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
B. G. Sidharth et al. (eds.), Fundamental Physics and Physics Education Research,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52923-9_21
263
Design, Construction and Use
of a Quantitative Spectroscope
for Science Dissemination
Francisco Savall-Alemany, Jesús Carnicer Murillo,
Rocío Espinosa Gutierrez, Esther Perales Romero, and
Hernán A. Supino Graña
Abstract In this work we present a spectroscope that we have constructed for
science dissemination in museums. The materials used are economical and easy to
handle, allowing all attendees in the spectroscopy workshop to build, use and take
home a small but useful spectroscope. We also present the steps followed to
construct it and the STEM activities that are carried out in the museum to learn
how to use it.
21.1 Introduction
Spectroscopy has been a technique of great scientific relevance, practically since its
appearance. It contributed to the discovery of elements as caesium, rubidium or
helium; it was used to determine the composition of the Sun and other celestial
objects, to establish the structure of atoms, etc. Nowadays, its use is common in the
detection of chemical substances or in the study of celestial objects, among many
other applications. In addition, since the popularization of LEDs as a light source,
several studies have been carried out which highlight their impact on the reconciliation of sleep, an effect that is related to the spectre of the light they emit (Gooley
et al. 2011). Despite its scientific importance, our experience shows us that it is
F. Savall-Alemany (*)
Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
J. Carnicer Murillo · H. A. Supino Graña
Museo Didáctico e Interactivo de Ciencias de la Vega Baja del Segura de la Comunitat
Valenciana (MUDIC-VBS-CV), Alicante, Spain
R. Espinosa Gutierrez
Stowmarket High School, Stowmarket, UK
E. Perales Romero
Grupo de Visión y Color, Departamento de Óptica, Farmacología y Anatomía, I. U. Física
Aplicada a las Ciencias y la Tecnología (IUFACyT), Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
B. G. Sidharth et al. (eds.), Fundamental Physics and Physics Education Research,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52923-9_21
263