Here's a list of things to do with your spectrometer, whether you're a teacher, a hobbyist, or a grassroots scientist. Also see Spectral Analysis Techniques for an overview of different kinds of spectrometry.

If you haven't yet, you should first calibrate your spectrometer with a CFL bulb](/wiki/spectral-workbench-calibration)

Please add your own, and include how much time it'll take, an estimate of the cost, etc.

Activities

Measure sodium lines

15-20 minutes, 1 candle, bunsen burner or propane burner

Read more at: http://publiclab.org/wiki/flare-spectroscopy-activity

Measure gases in the atmosphere

This is a good starting place, and a pretty easy spectrum to capture. Simply go outside during the day and point the spectrometer at an evenly illuminated part of the sky -- cloud or blue sky both work.

Even though air is pretty clear, pointing your spectrometer through miles of the atmosphere places enough molecules between your spectrometer and your light source (AKA the sun). Because of the sheer amount of molecules, you can see lines where CO2, O2, O3, and water vapor have absorbed part of the spectrum. These are known as the Frauenhofer lines.

For example, see: https://spectralworkbench.org/analyze/spectrum/913 (image below) and browse other examples here: https://spectralworkbench.org/tag/sunlight

Try different directions in the sky, towards and away from the sun. Where did you point your spectrometer to get the clearest absorption lines? Any idea why? Post a research note with your data and describe what you did.

Point it at different lights

Now let's try using manmade light sources. Go indoors and find some different kinds of light bulbs. Turn them on and point your spectrometer at them. Notice how much less of "the rainbow" you see compared to Flourescent - see the distinct emission lines of the mercury spectrum from mercury vapor in the lamps

(Flourescent specturm example image)

Neon lights

See these examples: http://publiclab.org/notes/cfastie/2-23-2013/neon

Lasers

Different colors of lasers - each of which will produce only a narrow band of colored light. Consider how to measure it without overloading the spectrometer with too much light.

What's next?

Try some more advanced tests. You'll need more supplies beyond what comes in the kit for these tests.

Detect sodium in table salt

With a candle and a small spray bottle of salt water, you can measure the emission spectrum of the sodium in table salt. Read more about this activity here

Advanced tests

Help advance this project -- please share your results if you manage to record data of one of these!

Measure other things in your kitchen

Try scanning a solution of alum? Mineral supplements dissolved in water? http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=dp_brw_link?node=3774271

Oils

Motor / Olive - compare two types of oil Garage version: get oil from your car

Laundry detergents

Try to detect blueing dyes in laundy detergent UV light:

• see JoshMC's post about this here: http://publiclab.org/notes/joshmc/4-28-2012/setup-uv-testing-specrtrometer
• and his results here: https://spectralworkbench.org/sets/show/15

Beer's Law

Varying concentrations of liquids like coffee, wine, soda, juice. Try to demonstrate Beer's Law by diluting your sample with 50% water, repeatedly.

• see examples here: http://publiclab.org/tag/beers-law

Venture off into the unknown.

Read about sample preparation of liquids and solids, and what kinds of sample containers to use: http://publiclab.org/wiki/spectrometry-sampling