Wednesday, February 27th, Ms. Byrne's Chemistry classes at Eagle Pass High School were able to see light through a whole new lens!
Students used spectroscopes to observe various light sources to see their atomic emission spectrums.
While every element looks like it is one color, it actually has a unique atomic spectra made up of multiple colors that no other element can have.
Students compared these lined spectrums to continuous spectrums, like the ones seen by natural light.
The students were able to relate this back to what they learned in class about the Atomic Spectra.
Light can behave as a wave and a particle.
As a wave, the students observed colors they can see that fall in the Visible Light section of the Electromagnetic Spectrum.
As a particle, the students were able to see these colors because a power source gave light energy to different elements, causing them to get excited.
When electrons are excited then relax back to their normal state, they emit these various colors.
Way to go Eagles!
