Lab Equipment for Teaching Physics

Note: stainless steel optical table or breadboard not provided

Features

• Stable aluminum rail for easy alignment

• Hydrogen-Deuterium lamp

• Detailed instructional manual

  
  

Introduction

The Balmer series is referred to as a set of discrete emission spectral lines of the Hydrogen atom. The visible Balmer series involves the electron transitions from the higher energy levels (n ≥ 3) to the second energy level (n = 2) where n is the principal quantum number of the electron.

The wavelengths of the Balmer series of the Hydrogen atom can be calculated from equation 1/λ = R (1/2²-1/n²), n=3, 4, 5, ..., where R is an empirical constant called the Rydberg constant (R=1.096776x10⁷ m^-1).

This apparatus uses a diffraction grating to disperse the collimated beam of a Hydrogen-Deuterium lamp and a digital protractor stage along with a telescope to measure the diffraction angles of the Balmer series lines. Once the wavelengths are determined, the experimental value of the Rydberg constant can be derived.

The instruction manual contains comprehensive materials including experimental configurations, principles and step-by-step instructions. Please click to view some sample pages of the instruction manual.

Specifications

Part List