Re: Long Prisms for homemade spectrometer

[John Denker <jsd@MONMOUTH.COM>]

At 05:24 PM 11/16/00 -0500, Gordon Smith wrote:
> I'm working on making a lab for students to determine the albedo of the moon
> by comparing spectra of the sun and moon.

I don't understand the point.  The usual definition of albedo
  http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=albedo
doesn't have any connection with the shape of the spectrum.

> As a secondary goal, I have this thought that the spectra off a reflecting
> body should be a bit different than a straight-shot spectra.  Is there any
> truth to this??

I should think so, assuming it's a colored reflecting body.

> I thought I could get clear of the "you'll burn your eyes out!" arguments by
> simply projecting the spectra onto a sheet of paper for the students to
> marks where the absorption lines were,

OK, there are several good reasons for projecting when you can....

> hence the need for a long prism.

I don't see the connection.  I don't see any necessary connection between
the size of the prism and the size of the image.

Hint:
  -- converging lens serving as condenser if needed, especially for moon
  -- slit
  -- prism
  -- lens serving to spread out the image