Our light sources are fluorescent, argon , mercury , neon and incandescent. The hand-held viewers consist of small sheets of diffraction grating sandwiched between thin pieces of plexiglas, taped together at the edges with clear tape. The exhibit is used to study the different spectra generated by various types of light sources.
Students look at each light source through a viewer and compare the rainbow spectra patterns formed.
Scientists use spectral patterns to determine the chemical source of light generated by distant stars and planets. This exhibit was designed by Chris Chiaverina , a physics teacher at New Trier High School, and was built by Jack Bragg , a professional carpenter.