In this task, students observe, compare, and explain the continuous spectrum produced by incandescent lights and the line spectrum produced by fluorescent lights.
They also use a simple diffraction grating slide to record the wavelengths of the hydrogen emission lines in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum and compare these experimentally determined wavelengths to those that are theoretically calculated based on electron transitions between energy levels using the Bohr model.
Based upon the wavelength comparisons, students evaluate the validity of the Bohr model when applying it to hydrogen atoms and discuss the limitations of the Bohr model.
This task will help students recognize the differences in the light sources of common light bulbs, understand the quantized energy levels in the electron structure of an atom, and explain the significance and limitations of the Bohr model.
