Quick Answer:The Wooden Spectroscope is a 200mm x 50mm x 50mm light-tight wooden viewer with a fixed vertical entry slit, a diffraction grating or glass prism and an eyepiece, for looking at the spectra of daylight and other light sources.
Last updated: 18 October 2026
Key Features
Seasoned wood body with a matte-black light-trap interior.
Diffraction grating or glass prism to spread the light.
Fixed-width vertical entry slit.
Eyepiece for direct viewing.
Compact 200mm x 50mm x 50mm size.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Body
Seasoned wood, matte-black interior
Dispersing element
Diffraction grating or glass prism
Slit
Fixed-width vertical entry slit
Viewing
Eyepiece
Dimensions
200mm x 50mm x 50mm
How It Is Used
With the slit pointed at a light source, the eyepiece shows the light spread out into its colours. A filament lamp gives a continuous band, while a gas discharge tube shows separate bright lines that identify the element giving out the light.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can be observed with the Wooden Spectroscope?
The spectra of daylight and other light sources: continuous spectra from hot sources and line spectra that act as signatures of the elements emitting the light.
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