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The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

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Abstract Volume 3 Issue 4 (1998), S1430-4171(98)04230-7
DOI 10.1333/s00897980230a [old prefix 10.1007/]

Using Natural and Artificial Light Sources to Illustrate Quantum Mechanical Concepts

Gregory A. Rechtsteiner and Jane A. Ganske*

Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263

Published online: 3 August 1998

Abstract. We present here a discovery-based laboratory project that introduces elementary quantum mechanical concepts using the spectral distributions of natural and artificial light sources. The measured emission spectra of sunlight and interior/exterior lighting are explained using the electromagnetic spectrum, the phenomenon of blackbody radiation, and the quantization of light. This 4–5 week experiment is appropriate for the general chemistry laboratory or can be expanded for use in upper division chemistry laboratories, and it uses modern spectroradiometric equipment that is readily available and increasingly used in the physical and biological sciences.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; light; spectral distribution; emission spectrum

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: jganske@pepvax.pepperdine.edu)

Article in PDF format (421 KB) HTML format

Supporting Materials:

Detailed information which can be used in adapting the project for a physical chemistry laboratory (419 KB) 10.1007/s0089798230b