Download Name: Candle Spectra Lab Objective: Students will be able to

Name:____________________________________________________ Candle Spectra Lab
Objective: Students will be able to observe colored birthday candles and identify the chemical composition of each
flame based on its specta.
Pre-lab Questions:
1.
What is spectra and why is it important?
2. What are THREE things we can learn from a star’s spectra?
3. What is the difference between redshift and blueshift?
4. How can you tell if a star is redshifting?
5. Using the power point, complete the data table below on Type of Stars:
Type of Star:
Neutron Star
Younger
Neutron Star
White Dwarf
Medium
Older Medium
Star
Giant Star
Super Giant
Star
Star Color:
Star
Temperature:
Elements Burned:
Examples:
Materials:
6 GEM FLAMES birthday candles
matches/lighter
clay
aluminum pan
spectroscope
colored pencils
Hypothesis: Predict the color that will be emitted for each color candle below.
Green:____________________________
Purple:___________________________________
Blue:_____________________________
White:____________________________________
Yellow:_____________________________
Red:___________________________________
Procedure:
1. Carefully place one of each of the candles in a small piece of clay in the aluminum pan.
2. After darkening the room, light one candle at a time and observe the candle with the spectroscope. COLOR the
spectra lines for each candle below:
3. Spectra Boxes: Color in the spectral lines in the space below for each color candle. Then PREDICT the element in
the candle!
a. Light
Element Prediction:
Green:
b. Purple:
Element Prediction:
c. Blue:
Element Prediction:
d. Dark
Green:
Element Prediction:
e. Orange:
f.
Element Prediction:
Red:
Element Prediction:
Analysis and conclusion Questions:
1.
Explain how this lab relates to the following:
a. Aurora Bourelis:
b. Fireworks:
c. Neon Lights:
2. Below is a diagram of the spectras for common elements. Based on these spectral lines, list the CORRECT
element for the candle color.
Light Green:_______________________
Purple:___________________________________
Blue:_____________________________
Dark Green:______________________________
Orange:_____________________________
Red:___________________________________
Provide the name for the element symbol
Application:
Based on your knowledge of the Nebular Theory, which states that our small Sun and its surrounding planets were
created by the supernova of a massive star, develop a SPECTRA (with the hypothesized elemental lines) as well as the
type, color and temperature of the star that erupted 4.6 billion years ago.
Then, lastly, based on the color and knowledge of our own Sun, create a SPECTRA with the correct elements for our Sun.
Include again, the type, color and temperature of our Sun.