Finding Width of A Hair Using A Laser Experiment

Monday, 22 June 2020
Finding the width of a human hair
Physics
Background theory:
Diffraction refers to the bending of a wave, which is a fundamental property of all

types of wave motion, including sound waves, water waves or electromagnetic
waves such as visible light, X-rays or radio waves. For instance when a light source
such as a laser is shine on very small diameter objects such as a human hair, a
single piece of cotton or a slit in a piece of paper, light is diffracted by it. This light, if
shone on objects like the one mentioned previously, will create an interference
pattern. The distance between each consecutive dark band (a node, which is a
point along the standing wave where its amplitude is a minimum) is related to the
size of the object that caused the light to scatter in the first place such as a human
hair. By measuring this distance between each node the width of the human hair
can be calculated using the equation d = λL/x.
When a lightwave is diffracted around a hair it is a variation of the Young’s Double

Slit, which is when light passes through two tin slits which are parallel, causing the
light to diffract. When the light touches the edge of the slit Huygen’s Principle tells
us that it is treated as a new light source.
Figure 3: Each point of the circumference is considered a new point source (left). The new point sources
will interfere with each other (right).
1
Aim: to find the width of a hair using a laser
Materials:
As stated in the equipment section of the lab report on page 147 of the Physics
STAWA textbook, the materials we are required to have in order to conduct the
experiment include the following;
- 1x Laser pointer
- Adhesive tape
- Cardboard (10cm x 15cm)
- Two retort stand and clamp
- A single human hair
- One measuring tape
- A darkened room
- One ruler
- One tape measure
- A whiteboard marker
- scissors
Method:
as stated on page 147 of the Physics STAWA book, the method included to conduct
the experiment is:
1. Make a frame to hold the hair by cutting out a rectangle that is about 1cm by
4cm in the middle of the 10cm by 15cm cardboard.
2. Sticky tape each end of the hair on either side of the rectangular cutout, making
sure that the hair tight.
3. Set up the equipment as shown in Diagram 1 below on the opposite side of the
class room where the whiteboard and ensuring it is facing towards it.
4. Now align the hair in front of the laser pointer by using the retort stands to hold
them steady. Ensure that the cotton is perpendicular to the floor (The ends of
the hair pointing up and down). When the hair is lined up properly the light
should scatter as it hits the hair.
2
5. Now use the tape measure to measure the distance between the hair and
whiteboard
6. Record the wavelength of light proceeded by the laser pointer which can be
found on the laser itself. If you are using a red laser pointer it will be about 650
nanometers and a green laser pointer would have a wavelength around 532
nanometers.
7. Measure the average distance between each node on the whiteboard with a
whiteboard marker by putting a dot in the middle of it. The node is the ‘dark’
areas along the diffracted line of light. Once you have measured most distances
add each result together and then divide it by the number of results recorded.
This will give you an average distance between each node. (A node is where the
wave is at a minimum amplitude and the distance between each consecutive
node is half a wavelength, so it would have to be doubled to get the full
wavelength.
Notes:
- The laser does not have to be directed at a whiteboard, it only allows for easier
marking out as you can use the whiteboard marker to mark out the centre of the
nodes. A simple white surface will do fine as well.
- It is important to note as well that this experiment was slightly altered to the one
in the Physics STAWA book, as instead of a hair, they used a cotton thread and
their distance between the laser and their wall was approximately 2 meters apart
where in this experiment it is in opposite sides of the classroom.
Diagram:
3
Results: (observation, tables, graphs…)
Table:
Average
length of half a wavelength (cm) 9 8 7.5 8.5 8 8 8.5 8.21
first half second half total
Distance wavelength 594 246 840

traveled (cm)
Observations:
When the laser was switched on and the hair was not in the way you could only see
the green dot on the whiteboard from the laser. But when we moved the hair in the
path of the laser the green dot now had a line of light to the left and right of it, which
had small slits in it where there was no light. This gradually faded away the further
you get from the centre of the green dot.
Distance between each consecutive nodes (black regions) (half a wavelength)
distance = wavelength x length / distance between the nodes
wavelength 532 nm
Conclusion
1. comment in relation to aim
2. error analysis
sources of error- ruler, tape measure, laser itself
+- 0.5cm
4
3. post lab discussion
other results
tape measure:
Fuller tape measure
8mx25mm
Post Lab Discussion:
Q1: (i) determine the thickness of sample of hair used in your group - see Post Lab
discussion STAWA pg 151
(ii) record the value of other groups in the class
(iii) research what is the average width of a human hair. Do your results fit inside these
parameters?
Q2: d = L/x and d = m/sin can both be used to determine the diameter or aperture of a hair
or gap. Research how the second formula gives the same value for d?
Q3. View ‘Double Slit Experiment’ – Professor Dave - Wk 8 Seqta. Then answer the below
quesVons
a.Thomas Young performed the double slit experiment in 1801. How did this experiment
support the wave theory of light?
a.In 1905 which problem did Einstein solve? This proved what? What phenomenon was
said to be born at this point in Vme in history?
a.A hundred years later the ‘modern double slit experiment’ was performed. How is this
modern double slit experiment different yet the same to Thomas Young’s double slit
experiment?
a.Discuss what is meant when Professor Dave says, ‘Newtonian (classical) Mechanics is
not the fundamental descriptor of moVon? Use a diagram to show the progression from
Classical Mechanics to Quantum and RelaVvisVc Mechanics.

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Monday, 22 June 2020

Finding the width of a human hair

Diﬀraction refers to the bending of a wave, which is a fundamental property of all

When a lightwave is diﬀracted around a hair it is a variation of the Young’s Double

will interfere with each other (right).

- Cardboard (10cm x 15cm)

- Two retort stand and clamp

- A single human hair

- One measuring tape

- One tape measure

Results: (observation, tables, graphs…)

length of half a wavelength (cm) 9 8 7.5 8.5 8 8 8.5 8.21

first half second half total

Distance wavelength 594 246 840

Distance between each consecutive nodes (black regions) (half a wavelength)

distance = wavelength x length / distance between the nodes

1. comment in relation to aim

sources of error- ruler, tape measure, laser itself

Fuller tape measure

Post Lab Discussion:

(ii) record the value of other groups in the class

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