Make your own Spectroscope

A spectroscope is an instrument used to break light up into its constituent colors, like a prism does, showing the light spectrum.
Save money with this DIY physics project, by making authentic scientific tools with recycled materials.
This is a great project for kids.

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Science & Technology

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[junior1984able]

what kind of index cards do u use,and what kind of masking tape is that??

[cowndelorean]

@junior1984able Any tape will work, it is only to help you remove the reflective layer, and you can use any cardboard or plastic card to make a collimator, there are also people using a couple razor blades to do it.

[cowndelorean]

@carlx01 it may work if you can remove the reflective layer, I will try anyway.

[cowndelorean]

@GamerMaster2041& EpicSoulSurvival

in deed, I did test both of them, but the reflective layer was impossible to remove on the DVD because it is encapsulated inside the plastic.

[cowndelorean]

Just make a little scratch on the label side of he disk, paste a piece of masking tape and remove it, the reflective layer is a sticker too.

But it only work on CD's, it's impossible on DVD's because they are different.

[flyingfish97]

1 person is colour blind

[baskoffie]

would be funny if he had a big black circle around his eye from all the paint at the end of the video

[techprep2]

Great explanation. My video Homemade Spectroscope also suggests other light sources to look at. @henekeshi you look through the clear cd side. I've been making them with my students this week. Enjoy.

[Henekeshi]

Wait, so you look through the slit between the paper or the shiny CD circle thing?

[NukeItGood1]

@carlx01 arnt blueray disks more expensive?

[carlx01]

can i use a bluray?