Spectrum Wheel (Worksheet)

Objectives

In this activity, you should be able to

1. construct a spectrum wheel and

2. explore the characteristics of light such as energy, frequency and wavelength.

Materials Needed

·         Spectrum Wheel Pattern

·         Cardboard or illustration board

·         Button fastener

·         Glue or Paste

Procedure

Part 1: Spectrum Wheel

1. Cut the two art files that make up the wheel as shown below.

2. Cut along the lines drawn on the top wheel. The small window near the center of the wheel should be completely cut out and removed.

3. Punch a whole into the center of the two wheels together. You may use a button fastener to hold the two wheels securely in place, one on top of the other, but they should be free to rotate relative to each other.

4. When you see a region of the EM spectrum show up in the open window and the “W, F, E” that correspond to that region showing up under the flaps then you know that you have done it right.

Part 2: Characteristics of Light

Try out your Spectrum Wheel by positioning the inner most of the flaps on EM SPECTRUM. This will simultaneously position the order flaps to ENERGY, WAVELENGTH, and FREQUENCY.

Turn the upper wheel and observe the combinations.

Fill in the table below with the corresponding combinations you have observed using your Spectrum Wheel.

Table 1. Characteristics of Light

Questions:

1. How are frequency and wavelength related for a specific region of the spectrum?

2. What can you observe with the values of the product of frequency and wavelength in the different spectra?

3. How is ENERGY related to FREQUENCY?

EM Spectrum	Energy	Frequency	Wavelength	Frequency x Wavelength
Radio
Microwave
Infrared
Visible Light
Ultraviolet
X-Ray
Gamma Ray