I'm doing a lab on helium and hydrogen emission spectra.
so I got violet 20.35cm
blue/green 21.70cm
green 22.75
light green 23.08
yellow 27.70
red 31.70
faint red 33.95
and I also have the wavelenghts for helium spectra, its given. like for ex. violet is 380-420, my question is do I just pick a number in between 380-420?
my results for hydrogen lamp are
purple 19.57cm
green 22.47cm
yellow 26.95
red 31.00
the wavelenghts are not given in this exercise, once I figure out the y=mx+b equation from the helium spectra, do I then plug the data I got from hydrogen in the Y, and figure out X, which would give me the wavelength? Do you follow?
Yes, I understand your question. To determine the wavelengths of the emission spectra for helium and hydrogen, you can use the formula for the equation of a straight line (y = mx + b). Here's how you can do it step by step:
1. For the helium spectra, you are given the values in centimeters (cm) rather than wavelengths. To convert the cm values to wavelengths, you need to use the conversion factor: 1 cm = 10 nm (nanometers). This will allow you to work with the same units as the given wavelength ranges.
2. For each color (e.g., violet, blue/green, green, etc.) in the helium spectra, calculate the average wavelength within the given range. To do this, you can simply pick a number in between the given range. For example, for violet (380 - 420 nm), you can pick 400 nm as the average wavelength.
3. Once you have the average wavelengths for the helium spectra, you can plot a graph using the cm values as the x-axis and the corresponding wavelengths as the y-axis. This will allow you to find the equation of the line that represents the relationship between cm and nm.
4. Use the y = mx + b equation to find the values of m and b in the equation of the line. The value of m represents the slope of the line, which can be calculated using two points on the line. The value of b represents the y-intercept of the line.
5. Now, for the hydrogen spectra, you can use the equation of the line obtained from the helium spectra to convert the cm values to the corresponding wavelengths. Plug the cm values for hydrogen (purple, green, yellow, red) into the equation and solve for y (wavelength).
By following these steps, you will be able to determine the wavelength of each color in the hydrogen spectra based on the cm measurements and the equation of the line derived from the helium spectra.
Important Note: The accuracy and reliability of your results will depend on the precision and correctness of your measurements and calculations. Make sure to follow the lab instructions and double-check your work for any errors.