Lab: Diffraction and Interference

Table of Contents
Lab: Diffraction and Interference
Lab: Photoelectric Effect and Planck's Constant
Lab: Width of a Human Hair
Lab: Atomic Spectra
Group: Pontillo, Listro, Hallowell, Dember
Date: February 2, 2012
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experiment is to examine the diffraction and interference patterns
formed by laser light passing through a single slit, diffraction grating and a double slit and verify that the
positions of the minima or maxima in the resulting pattern match the positions predicted by theory. In
addition, there will be a comparison between the diffraction and interference patterns formed by different
wavelengths of laser light and different slit widths/spacing.
HYPOTHESIS: Our results should follow the equation: =(d*sin)/m which is derived from the equation:
d*sin()=m*. In these equations m is the integer of fringes the fringe is from the center one, is the
wavelength of light, is the angle derived from the arctan of the fringe's distance and the length between
the slit/diffraction grating and screen. The d will change for each method. It will represent the slit spacing
in the double slit diffraction, the width in the single slit, and the difference in the lines of spacing in the
diffraction grating. Our experimental wavelength should match with the theoretical wavelengths, and, as
seen in the equation, red, which has the longest wavelength, should have the largest fringe lengths for
each respective order of the integer.
METHODS/ MATERIALS:
In order to perform this lab, we must first set it up by placing an optics bench on a flat surface with an
optics screen on one end of the bench. Then we place a single slit on the opposite end of the bench.
Once this is set up, shine a laser light through the single slit in the direction towards the screen. The
patterns will then be produced on the screen. Upon shining the light, trace the patterns on a piece of
paper, and record the measurements including the distance between the screen and the single slit, the
wavelength of light, and the length of fringes. Using the single slit, we repeated this process using multiple
lasers with varying wavelengths (different colors). After collecting data for the single slit, we replaced it
with a diffraction grating, and upon completing our data collection for it, we performed the same
experiment with a double slit diffraction.

DATA:

Analysi
:We were able to see from our results, different patterns associated with these experiment
.For the double slit interference: As (d) the slit spacing increased, the fringe distance decreased. Spacin
g was increased from .25 mm to .50 mm, and the fringe distance decreased from 2.1 mm to .9 mm. Also a
s wavelength increased (changing the color of the light) the fringe distance also increased. Violet 400 nm
, Green 535 nm, and Red 650 nm, the fringe distance increased from Violet 1.2 mm to Green 2.1 mm t
o 2.5 m
For Diffraction Grating: As the grating lines/cm (a) increases the fringe distance decreases. When "a" w
s .0016 mm and increased to .0033mm, the fringe distance decreased from 29 mm to 16 m
For Single Slit: When single slit width is increased, the y (fringe distance) will decrease. When slit width i
s increased from .02 mm to .04 mm to .08 mm, the fringe distance decreases from 21 mm to 11.2 mm t
o 3.6 m
.Also as wavelength increased (changing the color of the light) the fringe distance also increased. Viole
t 400 nm, Green 535 nm, and Red 650 nm, the fringe distance increased from Violet 21 mm to Green

29.8 mm to 34.5 mm.

CALCULATIONS:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Qualitatively describe and compare the patterns produced by:
1.
1.

The single slit

It produced a central band with dimmer bands parallel to it on each side.

2.
1.

3.
1.

The double slit

It produced a central band with dimmer bands parallel to it on each side. Each band has
light and dark spaces within it now.

The diffraction grating

This created dots on the screen on the same plane.

2. Make a chart to describe the changes that occur when:

1.
2.

the double slit width is increased

the double slit separation is increased

3.

the slit width of the single slit is increased

4.

the diffraction grating lines/cm is increased

5.

the wavelength of the light source is increased

CONCLUSION: Our hypothesis,that our results should follow the equation: =((w/d/a)*sin)/m which is
derived from the equation: d*sin()=m*. is the angle derived from the arctan of the fringe's distance
and the length between the slit/diffraction grating and screen, was proven to be correct. We see that when
the slit width, slit spacing, or the grating is increase, it also decreases the angle and the distance of the fringe. When
the slit spacing increased from .25 mm to .50 mm in the double slit experiment, the 1stfringe distance decreased from
2.1 mm to .90 mm. We are able to show that we could use the two equations together to find theta then wavelength.
Once finding the fringe distance and the distance between the slit and the screen, we were able to find the angle, to
plug into =((w/d/a)*sin)/m.
The lab did have error along with it. Our error ranged from 5-20% The actual measurements were hand-drawn and it
was very difficult to draw the light exactly because every time we would try to draw the bands a hand would block the
light a bit. This error came mostly from the small measurements we were taking. The values were rough estimates
compared because of the small spacing in between these points. We had to keep re-measuring to make sure our
measurements were accurate in accordance within our equation.

This lab shows the property that light can behave like wave and it is not only behaving particle. This is the
basic principle behind wave- particle duality, which can be used in electron microscopy, where the small
wavelengths associated with an electron can be used to see objects smaller than whats visible using
light. The double slit experiment which we performed is also a basis to quantum mechanics.