1. Electromagnetic Spectrum and Space
Objectives
Identify different wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Discuss electromagnetic waves and the information they provide about the components of the universe.
Essential Questions
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
What information do different frequencies reveal about the components of the universe?

2. Electromagnetic Spectrum
Go to page in the ScienceSaurus Student Handbook
Read the paragraph on the “Electromagnetic Spectrum”
Think about the colors that exist in the visible light spectrum.
Glue the “Seeing Part of the Electromagnetic Spectrum” sheet on your notebook paper.

3. SPECTROSCOPES
Scientists use tools to help them understand the universe, galaxies, stars, and planets.  A major tool used to gather information about these objects is called a spectroscope. 
     Spectroscopy is a technique used to help scientists determine the composition of objects made up of hot gases (like stars) and cool gases (like planetary atmospheres).  Spectroscopes are used to analyze the amounts and types of light that comes from these objects. 
     Spectroscopes break down the light emitted or absorbed by chemical elements into specific lines of color.  Every chemical element has a "fingerprint" of its own that can be used to identify it.  These fingerprints are generally produced when electrons change levels as they gain or lose energy.  Different energies produce different colored lines.

4. Spectroscope Activity
Procedures:
Obtain a Spectroscope from your teacher
View the Incandescent Light Bulb, record your observations and then make some inferences
View the Florescent Light, record your observations and then make some inferences.
Compare your observations and inferences. Use your comparisons to make an “I think…” Statement

5. Spectroscope Activity
Compare and contrast the observations you made using the spectroscope.

6. Spectroscope Activity
The light that we see with our eyes is called the VISIBLE LIGHT SPECTRUM. It makes a small portion of all the light around us.

7. Spectroscope Activity
Human eyes can not distinguish between all of the colors of the visible spectrum
A PRISM are used to separate the colors in visible light so human eyes can see them.
Your SPECTROSCOPE is a PRISM.

8. Spectroscope Activity
Every element emits different colors in the visible light spectrum. We can use a spectroscope to see what colors each element emits.

9. Spectroscope Activity
Let’s look at what you observed
Bulb: No Mercury Florescent Light: Contains Mercury

10. Every chemical element on the periodic table has its own spectral fingerprint that identifies it.  When looking at spectra from objects like stars and planetary atmospheres, it is easy to identify the chemical elements present by matching the colored spectral lines with the elements spectral fingerprint.

11. Use your periodic table!
Which element below has more electrons? Which element has the most electrons?
What RELATIONSHIP do electrons have to the color that the elements give off
Hydrogen
Helium
Mercury
Uranium
Remind students to use their periodic table to determine the number of electrons of each element.

12. Spectroscope Activity
How can Scientists use this information to find out about stars in the Universe?

13. Spectroscope Activity
What other kinds of electromagnetic wavelengths are around us.
Make observations of the electromagnetic spectrum with your group.

14. Electromagnetic Spectrum