PASCO SP-9268A STUDENT SPECTROMETER - Manual (Page 6)

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Student Spectrometer 012-02135F
®
Equipment
The PASCO scientific Model SP-9268A Student Spec-
trometer provides precise spectroscopic measurements
using either a prism or a diffraction grating as the dif-
fracting element. The spectrometer includes the follow-
ing equipment (see Fig 2).
Collimator and Telescope
Both the collimator and the telescope have 178 mm fo-
cal length, achromatic objectives, and clear apertures
with 32 mm diameters. The telescope has a 15X
Ramsden eyepiece with a glass, cross-hair graticule. The
collimator is fitted with a 6 mm long slit of adjustable
width. Both the collimator and the telescope can be lev-
eled. They can also be realigned (though this is rarely
necessary) so that their optical axes are square to the axis
of rotation.
Rotating Bases
The telescope and the spectrometer table are mounted on
independently rotating bases. Vernier scales provide
measurements of the relative positions of these bases to
within one minute of arc. The rotation of each base is
controlled with a lock-screw and fine adjust knob. With
the lock-screw released, the base is easily rotated by
hand. With the lock-screw tight, the fine adjust knob
can be used for more precise positioning.
Spectrometer Table
The spectrometer table is fixed to its rotating base with a
thumbscrew, so table height is adjustable. Three level-
ing screws on the underside of the table are used to ad-
just the optical alignment. (The table must be level with
respect to the optical axes of the collimator and tele-
scope if the diffracting element is to retain its alignment
for all positions of the telescope.) Thumbscrews are
used to attach the prism clamp and the grating mount to
the table, and reference lines are etched in the table for
easy alignment.
Accessories
Accessories for the spectrometer include a dense flint
prism and two mounting clamps; a 300 line/mm diffrac-
tion grating and mounting clamp; two thumbscrews for
attaching the mounting clamps to the spectrometer table;
a magnifying glass for reading the vernier; three Allen
keys for leveling the telescope and collimator; and a pol-
ished hardwood case.
NOTE: A 600 line/mm diffraction grating is avail-
able from PASCO as an optional accessory.
Optional Equipment: Gaussian Eyepiece
The Gaussian eyepiece (SP-9285) is an optional compo-
nent that simplifies the task of focusing and aligning the
spectrometer and aligning the diffraction grating. Its use
is described in the Appendix.
Spectrometer table
Diffraction grating and
Mounting clamp
Focus knob
Eyepiece
Graticule lock
ring
Telescope
Focus knob
Slit plate
Collimator
Slit width
adjust screw
Spectrometer
table base
Telescope
base
Magnifying glass
for reading Vernier
Table rotation:
Lock screw
Fine adjust knob
Prism and
Mounting clamp
Telescope rotation:
Fine adjust knob
Vernier scale
Lock screw
Figure 2
The Spectrometer