Development of a Low-Cost Spectrometer for Educational Applications

This paper presents the development of a low-cost spectrometer designed for educational purposes, utilizing readily available components such as an Arduino UNO microcontroller and a standard 480 p webcam. The spectrometer is capable of performing essential spectroscopic functions, including the analysis of light spectra and plotting light intensity versus current (L-I) curves. The construction of the device, which uses a transmission diffraction grating and a simple PVC enclosure, allows it to measure light spectra with minimal deviation from professional spectrometers accurately. The results, including benchmarking against a commercial spectrometer and demonstrating applications such as analyzing water-colored slides, highlight the practicality of the device in teaching fundamental optical concepts. Its affordability and performance make it suitable for students and researchers in resource-limited settings.