The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Light, Sound and Waves

Simple spectrum of sunlight

Practical Activity for 14-16 PRACTICAL PHYISCS

Class practical

Using prism, needle and sunlight to observe a spectrum.

Apparatus and Materials

For each student or group of students

  • 60-degree prism
  • Needle

Health & Safety and Technical Notes

For safety reasons, you might prefer to mount the needle in some cork.

Read our standard health & safety guidance

Procedure

  1. Hold the needle at arm's length in one hand and the prism in the other hand, close to your eye. The needle should be parallel to the refracting edge of the prism and brightly illuminated by sunlight.
  2. Twist the prism until you can see the needle by refraction through the prism.

Teaching Notes

  • The needle would appear as a bright line, but the dispersion makes it appear drawn out into a bright, white-light spectrum.
  • The higher the dispersive power of the prism material, the better.
  • It may be possible to see absorption lines, otherwise known as Fraunhofer lines. This is because the needle forms a bright, narrow line-image of the sun, which serves as a slit. The eye, viewing the needle from some distance, provides the lens system that is needed.

This experiment was safety-tested in January 2007

IOP AWARDS 2025

Teachers of Physics Awards

The Teachers of Physics Award celebrates the success of secondary school physics teachers who have raised the profile of physics and science in schools. Nominations for 2025 are now open.

Start your nomination now