Low-Cost Spectrometer for Educational Applications using Mobile Devices

T. C. Muñoz Hernández, E. González-Valencia, P. Torres, D. L. Aristizábal Ramírez


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Base Information

Volume

V50 - N3 / 2017 Ordinario

Reference

221-228

DOI

http://doi.org/10.7149/OPA.50.3.49035

Language

English

Keywords

Education, Spectrometry, Spectroscope, Spectrometer

Abstract

In this work, we report the development of a low-cost attachment to a commercial cell phone that transforms the phone into a visible-light spectrometer for educational applications. The emission of a visible light source is readily detected and characterized by using the phone camera and a freeware application for Android mobile devices, PhysicsSensor Mobile Edition. The spectrometer has a 350 nm bandwidth with a spectral resolution of 5 nm, which can be achieved through the calibration module that takes as reference the central wavelengths of a couple of LEDs whose emissions are blue and red. We demonstrate the functionality of the system by analyzing the emission spectrum of a sodium flame, a commercial sodium lamp and a commercial mercury lamp. We envision the devices to have immediate relevance in the educational field.

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