Chapter 22
SPETTROGRAFO: A Digital Spectrometer
for Educational Lab Activities
Daniele Buongiorno, Mario Gervasio, and Marisa Michelini
Abstract Optical spectroscopy is a significant methodological example of how
physics makes use of indirect measure in order to obtain information on physical
systems and validate models. Physics Education Research Unit from Udine University (IT) designed an educational path on optical spectroscopy, in which students are
directly involved in experimental activities focused on interpretative plan allowing
to highlight the link between energy levels in atoms and discrete light emissions.
After analyzing several commercial devices and mobile APPs allowing spectroscopic measurements, a digital spectrometer using a simple webcam implementing
the various functionalities offered by the existing proposal to be connected via USB
to PCs has been designed and realized. The hardware allows to use different
diffraction grating, optical filters, and an optical goniometer. The software is
designed to allow calibration and qualitative and quantitative measures of wavelengths and energies. Here we describe in detail the system and some experimental
activities to be carried out with secondary school students and in introductory
physics courses.
22.1 Introduction
Teaching modern physics in secondary school requires innovative and effective
approaches since its teaching has been integrated in European school curricula
since few years. This approach needs to found a scientific culture linking new
theories with instruments and methods typical of physics. Optical spectroscopy
representing a conceptual, methodological, and historical bridge between classical
and modern physics provides a fertile experimental basis of the modern atomic
D. Buongiorno (*) · M. Michelini
Physics Education Research Unit, DMIF, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
e-mail: buongiorno.daniele@spes.uniud.it; marisa.michelini@uniud.it
M. Gervasio
DMIF-URDF, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
e-mail: mario.gervasio@uniud.it
© 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_22
271
SPETTROGRAFO: A Digital Spectrometer
for Educational Lab Activities
Daniele Buongiorno, Mario Gervasio, and Marisa Michelini
Abstract Optical spectroscopy is a significant methodological example of how
physics makes use of indirect measure in order to obtain information on physical
systems and validate models. Physics Education Research Unit from Udine University (IT) designed an educational path on optical spectroscopy, in which students are
directly involved in experimental activities focused on interpretative plan allowing
to highlight the link between energy levels in atoms and discrete light emissions.
After analyzing several commercial devices and mobile APPs allowing spectroscopic measurements, a digital spectrometer using a simple webcam implementing
the various functionalities offered by the existing proposal to be connected via USB
to PCs has been designed and realized. The hardware allows to use different
diffraction grating, optical filters, and an optical goniometer. The software is
designed to allow calibration and qualitative and quantitative measures of wavelengths and energies. Here we describe in detail the system and some experimental
activities to be carried out with secondary school students and in introductory
physics courses.
22.1 Introduction
Teaching modern physics in secondary school requires innovative and effective
approaches since its teaching has been integrated in European school curricula
since few years. This approach needs to found a scientific culture linking new
theories with instruments and methods typical of physics. Optical spectroscopy
representing a conceptual, methodological, and historical bridge between classical
and modern physics provides a fertile experimental basis of the modern atomic
D. Buongiorno (*) · M. Michelini
Physics Education Research Unit, DMIF, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
e-mail: buongiorno.daniele@spes.uniud.it; marisa.michelini@uniud.it
M. Gervasio
DMIF-URDF, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
e-mail: mario.gervasio@uniud.it
© 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_22
271