The Spectrum

Continuous Spectrum

[M/L | t+ | ★★★]
Spectrum production using prism and carbon arc or slide projector.

[In-Depth Description]

Spectrum Recombination

[M/L | t+ | —]
A second prism recombines the colors to produce white light; alternatively, colors may be recombined in a glass globe.

Complementary Spectrum

[L | t+ | —]
A complementary (opaque) slit produces the the complementary colors of the regular spectrum.

[In-Depth Description]

Ultra-Violet Radiation

[M/L | t+ | —]
Carbon arc with quartz optics and fluoroscopic screen.

Radiometer

[M | t+ | ★★]
Detection of IR radiation from hair dryer and/or special IR source.

[In-Depth Description]

Infra-Red Radiation

[M/L | t++ | —]
Carbon arc with six thermometers or radiometer positioned through spectrum.

Infra-Red Projector

[M | t+ | ★★]
Lantern projector with IR transmission filter and heat sensitive liquid crystal screen.

[In-Depth Description]

Infra-Red Beam

[M | t+ | —]
Electric heater with parabolic mirror; a second parabolic mirror focuses IR beam (with flash paper detection).

LWIR Camera

[ S|t| ★★★★ ]
See how objects of different temperature emit different intensities of infra-red radiation.

[In-Depth Description]

Land's Retinex Theory Experiment

[L | t++ | ★★★★]
The experiment addresses questions like "Does color inhere in the world, or in the eye?" It is a re-creation of Edwin Land's retinex theory experiment.

[In-Depth Description]

Gray Scale Perception

[M | t+ | —]
A demonstration of eye/brain logic in the perception of gray scales across boundaries using rotating disks and/or cylinders.

Monochromatic Illumination

[L | t+ | —]
Students are asked to guess the colors of various objects illuminated by monochromatic light from a carbon arc spectrum.

Color That Isn't There

[S/M | t+ | —]
Subjective colors appear when observing rapidly alternating patterns of black and white on a spinning disk.

Color Mixing

[L | t+ | ★★]
Additive color mixing with three slide projectors and filters.

[In-Depth Description]

TV Color Perception

[L | t++ | ★★★★]
RGB additive color mixing shown by magnified phosphor dots of video monitor.

[In-Depth Description]

Contact Us

Mailing Address: Lecture Demonstration Services, Science Center, Rm B-08A, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Campus Location: Science Center B-08A | Tel: (617) 495-5824 | Email: scidemos-at-fas.harvard.edu