EX-5645 Interference and Diffraction Page 1 of 10

Interference and Diffraction of Light

Equipment

Qty Description Part #

1 Basic Optics Track, 1.2 m OS-8508
1 Diffraction Slits OS-8442
1 Red Diode Laser OS-8525A
1 Wireless Diffraction Scanner OS-8441
1 Green Diode Laser OS-8458B

Introduction
The distances between the central maximum and the diffraction minima for a single slit are
measured by scanning the laser pattern with a light sensor and plotting light intensity versus
distance. Also, the distance between interference maxima for two or more slits is measured.
These measurements are compared to theoretical values. Differences and similarities between
interference and diffraction patterns are examined, including the effect of changing the
wavelength of the light.

Double Slit Interference Pattern

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Single Slit Theory

When diffraction of light occurs as it passes through
a slit, the angle to the minima (dark spot) in the
diffraction pattern is given by

a sin θ = mλ (m=1,2,3, …) (1)

where "a" is the slit width, θ is the angle from the

center of the pattern to a minimum, λ is the
wavelength of the light, and m is the order (m = 1 for
the first minimum, 2 for the second minimum,
...counting from the center out).
In Figure 1, the laser light pattern is shown just
below the computer intensity versus position graph.
The angle theta is measured from the center of the
single slit to the first minimum, so m equals one for
the situation shown in the diagram. Notice that the
central spot in the interference pattern is twice as wide Figure 1: Single Slit Diffraction
as the other spots since m=0 is not a minimum.
Since theta is a very small angle, sinθ ~ tanθ = xm/L, where xm is the distance from the center of
central maximum to the mth minimum on either side of the central maximum and L is the
distance from the slit to the screen.

sin θ ≈ tan θ = xm/L (2)

It is easier to measure the distance (Δx = 2xm) from the mth minimum on one side to the mth
minimum on the other side than to try to judge the center of the pattern. Equation (2) becomes

sin θ ≈ tan θ = Δx /2L (3)

Our accuracy will be improved by making (Δx ) as large as possible. The slit width is not known
very well. The uncertainty in the width is +/- 0.005 mm. That is a 25% uncertainty for the 0.020
mm slit. So instead of using the slit width to calculate a value for the laser wavelength, we use
the known wavelength of the laser to calculate a more accurate value for the slit width.

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Double Slit Theory

When interference of light occurs as it passes through
two slits, the angle from the central maximum (bright
spot) to the side maxima in the interference pattern is
given by

d sin θ = nλ (n=0,1,2,3, …) (4)

where "d" is the slit separation, θ is the angle from the

center of the pattern to the nth maximum, λ is the
wavelength of the light, and n is the order (0 for the
central maximum, 1 for the first side maximum, 2 for the
second side maximum ...counting from the center out).

In Figure 2, the laser light pattern is shown just below the

computer intensity versus position graph. The angle theta
is measured from the midway between the double slit to Figure 2: Double Slit Interference
the second side maximum, so n equals two for the
situation shown in the diagram.

As before, theta is a small angle and Equation (3) still holds:

sin θ ≈ tan θ = Δx /2L (3)

where Δx = 2xn is the distance from the nth side maximum on one side to the nth side maximum
on the other side of the central maximum and L is the distance from the slits to the screen. Since
it is more accurate to measure from the nth maximum on one side to the nth maximum on the
other side, we will measure 2xn..

Note that the single slit diffraction pattern is also present in the double slit pattern. It is
responsible for the broad minima that occur (see Figure 2). This means we must be careful when
counting n in the double slit pattern since a double slit maximum can be suppressed by a single
slit minimum.

Pre-Lab Questions

1. For a single slit, as the slit width is increased, what happens to the pattern? Does the angle to
the first diffraction minimum increase or decrease or stay the same?

2. For a double slit, as the slit width is increased, what happens to the pattern? Does the angle to
the first diffraction minimum increase or decrease or stay the same? Does the angle to the
first interference maximum increase or decrease or stay the same?

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3. For a double slit, as the slit separation is increased, what happens to the pattern? Does the
angle to the first diffraction minimum increase or decrease or stay the same? Does the angle
to the first interference maximum increase or decrease or stay the same?

4. For a double slit, as the wavelength is decreased, what happens to the pattern? Does the angle
to the first interference maximum increase or decrease or stay the same?

Figure 3: Complete System

Setup
1. Mount the laser on the end of the optics bench. Mount the diffraction slit disk to the optics
bench with the printed side toward the laser as shown. Turn on the laser. CAUTION: Never
shine the laser beam directly into anybody’s eye! To select the desired slits, just rotate the
disk until it clicks into place with the 0.02 mm aperture slit illuminated by the laser.

2. Mount the Wireless Diffraction Scanner at the opposite end of the track by loosening the
black knobs at the front and back, sliding the square nuts through the center slot of the track,
and retightening the knobs. Ensure that the white screen that houses the light sensor faces the
laser.

3. On the back of the Wireless Diffraction scanner set the aperture width to 1.5 mm by turning
the dial until it clicks into place.

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Figure 4: Aligning the Laser

4. Move the light sensor until you can see the beam somewhere on the white screen. Use the
adjustment screws on the laser (see Figure 4) to adjust the position of the laser beam from
left-to-right and up-and-down to make the pattern on the white screen as bright as possible.
Once this position is set, it is not necessary to make any further adjustments of the laser beam
when viewing any of the slits on the disk. When you rotate the disk to a new slit, the laser
beam will be already aligned. Since the slits click into place, you can easily change from one
slit to the next, even in the dark.

5. Press the power button on the back of the Wireless Diffraction Scanner, open Capstone, click
on hardware setup, and select the wireless diffraction scanner that is yours to connect it to the
software via Bluetooth.

6. In Capstone, set the Common Sensor Sample Rate to 25 Hz. Create a graph of Relative
Intensity vs. Distance.

7. Create a table as shown below.

Single Slit Procedure

1. Set the laser at the 0 cm mark and the diffraction slits at the 5 cm mark as indicated by the
pointers at the base of each device. Place the Wireless Diffraction Scanner such that white
screen is at about the 100 cm mark. Measure the distance between the slits (front of Slit Disk)
and the white screen. You can use the scale on the track, but it is easier and more accurate to
use a meter stick. Record this distance. The wavelength of the laser is printed on its back.
Record this wavelength.

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2. Turn on the laser and observe the pattern on the screen as you rotate the Single Slit to each of
its four positions (0.16, 0.08, 0.04, 0.02 mm). How does the pattern change as you decrease
the slit width? Answer Question 1 in the Conclusions. Set the disk to the 0.02 mm slit and set
the aperture width on the Wireless Diffraction Scanner to 1.5 mm. Vary the aperture width to
see its effects on your measurements between each run. Once completed, turn off the laser.

3. Turn the crank on the Wireless Diffraction Scanner counterclockwise until the light sensor
screen has completely reached the opposite side. This will be the zero-starting position for
each run. As you turn the crank clockwise the scanner should read a positive position
measurement. Otherwise, click hardware setup, click the gear icon on the diffraction position
sensor, and click change sign. Close hardware setup.

4. Click on hardware setup, click the gear icon on the diffraction intensity sensor, and click zero
sensor now. Ensure the sensitivity is set to medium and close hardware setup. Turn on the
laser and click the RECORD button. Then, slowly turn the crank to scan the pattern. Click on
STOP and turn off the laser when you have finished the scan. If you make a mistake, simply
delete the run using the Delete Last Run button at bottom of screen and do the scan again.
Click on Data Summary at the left of the screen. Double Click on Run #1 and re-label it
"0.02 mm @ 1.5 mm". Click Data Summary to close it.

5. Repeat for the 0.04 mm slit. Label the run "0.04 mm @ .5 mm"

Single Slit Analysis

1. Select the 0.02 mm Run. Click the Scale to Fit button on the graph toolbar. Ignore the noise
on the central maximum. It mostly arises because the beam from the solid-state laser is not
very well collimated resulting in the horizontal spread of the beam. This means different
parts of the beam from the laser strike the slit at slightly different angles (from the left or
right of the beam instead of the center of the beam), resulting in slightly different path
lengths to the screen and some additional interference in the pattern. It does not affect the
positions of the minimums.

2. We need to expand the vertical scale to see the minimums more clearly. Click and drag the
vertical scale to expand the scale. Continue until you can clearly see the 1st minimums
(nearest the central max).

3. Click on the Coordinate Tool from the graph toolbar. Drag the crosshairs to the 1st minimum
on the left. Right-click on the Coordinate Tool and select Show Delta. Drag the delta to the1st
minimum on the right. Record the delta position in the “Δx” column of the table. Note: If the
delta value does not have 3 significant figures, right-click on the Coordinate Tool and go to
its properties and change the number of significant figures to 3.

4. Solve Equation (1) for the slit width and substitute Equation (3) into Equation (1). Calculate
the slit width and enter it into the table.

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5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the 0.04 mm Run. Your accuracy will be improved by using minimums
further from the center if you can see them clearly. Record the “m” value in the table to
reflect the minimum you actually measured. You must use the same minimum on each side
of the center!

Double Slit Procedure

1. Use the same setup as outlined in the single slit procedure

2. Turn on the laser and observe the pattern on the screen as you rotate the Double Slit to each
of its four positions (a = 0.04 mm & d = 0.25 mm, etc.). How does the pattern change? Can
you see the single slit diffraction pattern? Answer Question 2 in the Conclusions. Set the disk
to the a = 0.04 mm and d = 0.25 mm position and set the aperture width on the Wireless
Diffraction Scanner to 0.1 mm.

3. Turn the crank on the Wireless Diffraction Scanner counterclockwise until the light sensor
screen has completely reached the opposite side. This will be the zero-starting position for
each run. As you turn the crank clockwise the scanner should read a positive position
measurement. Otherwise, click hardware setup, click the gear icon on the diffraction position
sensor, and click change sign. Close hardware setup.

4. Click on hardware setup, click the gear icon on the diffraction intensity sensor, and click zero
sensor now. Ensure the sensitivity is set to medium and close hardware setup. Turn on the
laser and click the RECORD button. Then, slowly turn the crank to scan the pattern. Click on
STOP and turn off the laser when you have finished the scan. Click on Data Summary at the
left of the screen. Double Click on the current Run and re-label it: "0.04a-0.25d @ 0.1 mm".
Click Data Summary closed.

5. Repeat for the 0.04 mm wide slit with slit separation 0.50 mm. Label the run "0.04a-0.50d @
0.1 mm".

Double Slit Analysis

1. Select the 0.04a-0.25d Run. Click the Scale-to-Fit button.

2. Click on the Coordinate Tool (graph toolbar). Right-click in the center of the crosshairs and
select tool properties. Then increase the number of significant figures to 4.

3. We need to expand the horizontal scale to see the maxima more clearly. The pattern should
look like the example on the first page.

4. Under the central diffraction pattern, select a maximum that is far to the left of the central
max as possible. For example, the n=5 max. (Recall that the central max is n=0.) Drag the
crosshairs to the 5th maximum on the left. Right-click on the Coordinate Tool and select
Show Delta. Drag the delta to the 5th maximum on the right. Record the delta position in the

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“Δx” column of the table. If the number of your max was different from 5, enter your value
in “n” column.

5. Solve Equation (4) for the wavelength and substitute Equation (3) into Equation (4).
Calculate the wavelength and enter it into the table.

6. Choose a different maximum and repeat the analysis.

7. Repeat for the 0.04a-0.50d Run.

Double Slit with Green Laser

1. Replace the red laser with the green laser so the tip of laser is the same distance from the
diffraction slit. The distance from the slits to the screen should be the same as it was before.
Record the wavelength of the green laser as seen on its label.

2. Align the green laser beam in the same manner as you did before for the red laser.

3. Set the disk to the a = 0.04 mm and d = 0.25 mm position. Turn the crank on the Wireless
Diffraction Scanner until the light sensor screen has completely reached the opposite end.
Set the aperture width on the Wireless Diffraction Scanner to 0.1 mm and light sensitivity to
medium, but feel free to adjust them between runs to accentuate certain data points of
interest.

4. Click on hardware setup, click the gear icon on the diffraction intensity sensor, and click zero
sensor now. Ensure the sensitivity is set to medium and close hardware setup. Turn on the
laser and click the RECORD button. Then, slowly turn the crank to scan the pattern. Click on
STOP and turn off the laser when you have finished the scan. Click on Data Summary at the
left of the screen. Double Click on the current Run and re-label it: "0.04a-0.25d @ 0.1 mm
green". Click Data Summary closed.

Double Slit with Green Laser Analysis

1. Select the 0.04a-0.25d @ 0.1 mm green run. Click the Scale-to-Fit button.

2. Click on the Coordinate Tool (graph toolbar). Right-click in the center of the crosshairs and
select tool properties. Then increase the number of significant figures to 4.

3. We need to expand the horizontal scale to see the maxima more clearly. The pattern should
look like the example on the first page.

4. Under the central diffraction pattern, select a maximum that is far to the left of the central
max as possible. For example, the n=5 max. (Recall that the central max is n=0.) Drag the
crosshairs to the 5th maximum on the left. Right-click on the Coordinate Tool and select
Show Delta. Drag the delta to the 5th maximum on the right. Record the delta position in the

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“Δx” column of the table. If the number of your max was different from 5, enter your value
in “n” column.

5. Your precision will be improved if you can use a larger value of n. We need to expand the
vertical scale to see the maximums more clearly. Click and drag the vertical axis upward.
Continue until the peak with the cursor on it is near the top of the graph.

6. Calculate the wavelength as you did for the red laser and enter it into the Data table.

Single Slit Comparison to Double Slit

1. Select the 0.04 mm run and the 0.04a-0.25d run on the graph.

2. How are these patterns similar?

3. How are these patterns different?

Comparison of Double Slits Having Different Slit Separations

1. Select the 0.04a-0.25d run and the 0.04a-0.50d run on the graph.

2. How are these patterns similar?

3. How are these patterns different?

Comparison of Red and Green Wavelengths

1. Select the 0.04a-0.25d run and the 0.04a-0.25d Green run on the graph. You may want to
change the colors of these runs to Red and Green in the Data Summary.

2. Which wavelength is longer: Red or Green?

3. How are these patterns similar?

4. How are these patterns different?

5. Do Equations (1) and (4) predict these differences?

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Conclusions
1. Using your eyes, how does the single slit pattern change as you increase the slit size?

2. Using your eyes, how does the double slit pattern change as you increase the slit separation?

3. How does the Single Slit Diffraction change as you vary the slit width (a)? Does this agree
with your answer to Question 1 above?

4. How does the Double Slit pattern change as you vary the slit separation (d)? Does this agree
with your observations from Question 2 above?

5. How does the Double Slit pattern change as you vary the wavelength? Does this agree with
your answer to the pre-lab question?

Written by Ann Hanks