DIFFRACTION GRATING

USING A SPECTROMETER
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT REPORT

BY:

Sagunthala Mathangi
H Raghul Krishna
S. Samyuktha
R. Shalini
D. Tanisha
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Contents

S.No. Pg. No.

1. Introduction 2

2. About diffraction 4

3. Comparison Table 5

4. Some terms related to the experiment 6

5. Experiment 8

6. Procedure 9

7. Diagrams 11

8. Calculations 12

9. Result 13

10. Precautions 14

11. Bibliography 15
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INTRODUCTION

Wave Nature of Light

The wave theory of light or wave nature of light was put forward by Huygens
and later modified by Fresnel. According to wave theory, light is treated as a form
of energy which travels through a medium in the form of transverse wave motion.
The speed of light in a medium depends on the medium. The wave nature of light
has explained many phenomenon of light such as interference, diffraction and
polarization.

Interference
The wave theory of light or wave nature of light was put forward by Huygens
and later modified by Fresnel. According to wave theory, light is treated as a form
of energy which travels through a medium in the form of transverse wave motion.
The speed of light in a medium depends on the medium. The wave nature of light
has explained many phenomenon of light such as interference, diffraction and
polarization.

Diffraction
Diffraction is the slight bending of light as it passes around the edge of an
object with size in the order of the wavelength of the light. The amount of bending
depends on the wavelength of light and size of object.
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Polarisation
The phenomenon of restricting the vibrations of light(electric vector) in a
particular direction, perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation is called
polarisation of light. Light that is so polarized is called polarized light.

“In this project we deal with diffraction and determine the wavelengths of
composite light using diffraction grating and spectroscopy”.
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About diffraction:
Diffraction is the slight bending of light as it passes around the edge of an
object with size in the order of the wavelength of the light. The amount of bleeding
depends on the relative size of the wavelength of light to the size of the opening. If
the opening is much larger than the wavelength of light, the bending is
unnoticeable. However, if the opening is closer to the wavelength of light, the
amount of bending is considerable, and easily seen with the naked eye.

In the atmosphere, the diffracted light is actually bent around atmospheric

particles. Most commonly these atmospheric particles are tiny water droplets
present in clouds. Diffracted light can produce fringes of light, dark or coloured
bands.

There are two types of diffraction:

- Fraunhofer Diffraction: This type of diffraction deals with diffraction at large
distances from the source.
- Fresnel Diffraction: This type of diffraction deals with diffraction at small
distances from the source.
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Comparison Chart:

Fraunhofer Diffraction Fresnel Diffraction

Wave Fronts Planar wave fronts Cylindrical wave fronts

Lens Convex lens is used Convex lens isn’t used

Observation Observation distance isinfinite . In Source of screen at finite distance

Distance practise often at focal point of lens from obstacle

Surface of Patterns of spherical surfaces Patterns on flat surfaces

Calculation

Movement of Fixed in position Moves in a way that directly

Diffraction corresponds with shift in object
Pattern
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Some terms related to the experiment:

1. Diffraction Grating

An idealized grating is the one which is made up of a set of slits of spacing

greater than that of the wavelength of interest to cause diffraction. Diffraction
grating is an optical instrument which has a plane glass plate on which a large
number of opaque rulings are made at equidistant spacings from each other with a
diamond head. It splits and diffracts light into several beams travelling in different
directions. The directions of these beams depend on the spacing of the grating
and the wavelength of the light used so that the grating acts as a dispersive
element.
An idealized grating is the one which is made up of a set of slits of spacing greater
than that of the wavelength of interest to cause diffraction.
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2. Spectrometer

The spectrometer consists of three parts:

1. The collimator which consists of a slit of adjustable width together with a lens. The
slit is located in the focal plane of the lens so that the light from the slit is rendered
parallel by the lens.
2. The center disc upon which the grating is mounted.
3. The telescope for viewing light from the grating.

3. Mercury Vapour Lamp:

A mercury vapour lamp is a gas discharge lamp that uses an electric arc
through vaporized mercury to produce light. The arc discharge is generally
confined to a small fused quartz arc tube mounted within a larger
borosilicate glass bulb. The outer bulb may be clear or coated with a
phosphor. The mercury vapour lamp provides light for the diffraction grating
experiment.
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Experiment

Aim:
To determine the wavelength of composite light using a spectrometer and a
diffraction grating.

Apparatus required:
A spectrometer, plane diffraction grating, a mercury vapour lamp, reading lens.

Formula:
The wavelength of a spectral line using normal incidence arrangement of
grating is given by..
= sin x / N .m
Where
i) x is the angle of diffraction
ii) m is the order of the diffraction image
iii) N is the number of lines per unit length drawn of the grating.
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Procedure:

1. Adjusting the diffraction grating for normal incidence

The initial adjustment of the spectrometer is made.The collimator is
illuminated with the given composite light, say mercury vapour lamp. The
diffraction grating is mounted vertically on the grating table with its plane face
facing the collimator. The telescope is adjusted to be in the same axis as the
collimator slit is viewed through the telescope (the direct image is undispersed
image) The vertical cross wire is made to coincide with the fixed edge of the slit
image. The direct reading is noted. Let it be R1(in either vernier A or B). The
telescope is then rotated through an angle 90 and fixed. The grating table is further
adjusted such that the vertical crosswire of the eyepiece of the telescope
coincides with the edge of the slit image.

Now the vernier table is released and rotated by an angle of 45 degrees in the
same direction in which we rotate the telescope unfixed. Now the light coming
from collimator will be incident normally on the grating.

2. Determination of wavelengths of different colors of mercury lamp spectrum

The telescope is again adjusted to catch the undispersed direct image on
either side of the direct image. We then get dispersed diffracted image of the slit in
different constituent colours corresponding to different colours. The difference in
R1-R2 gives x where x is the angle of diffraction. Hence the wavelength of light is
The telescope is moved slowly to the left side to catch the first order diffracted
image of blue colour. The reading is taken on both verniers. It is turned to the same
side to catch the first order diffracted images of green and yellow colours
respectively. The reading is gain taken (R2).
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The difference in R1-R2 gives x where x is the angle of diffraction. Hence

wavelength of light is
= sin x / N .m
Where m is the order of diffracted image and N is the number of lines per unit length
drawn of the grating. Same formula is used to calculate values of wavelength of
yellow and green light
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Diagrams

Order Diffracted Image On One Side X(R1-R2)

Colour Degrees
of Light Vernier I Vernier II

MSR VIC TR MSR VC TR

(DEGR (MINS) (DEGRE (DEGRE (MINS) (DEGRE
EES) ES) ES) ES)

1. BLUE 149 7 149.7 329 10 329.1 14.53

2. GREEN 153 25 153.25 333 20 333.2 19.7

3. YELLOW 154 10 154.1 334 5 334.5 19.52

Direct MSR VC (MINS) TR MSR VC (MINS) TR

Reading (DEGREES) (DEGREES) (DEGREES) (DEGREES)

134 5 134.5 314 25 314.25

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Calculations:
= wavelength of BLUElight =sin x/m.N

= 0.2568/1 * 5.9 *10^5

= 4352
= wavelength of GREEN light =sin x/m.N
= 0.3274/1 * 5.9 *10^ 5
= 5549
= wavelength of YELLOW light = sin x /m.N
= 0.3398/1 * 5.9 *10^ 5
= 5759
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Result:
The wavelength of the spectral lines of mercury spectrum are determined
i) Wavelength of blue light = 4352 Å
ii) Wavelength of green light = 5549 Å
iii) Wavelength of yellow light = 5759 Å
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Precautions:
- The telescope and collimator should be individually set for parallel rays.
- The diffraction grating should be property placed on the table for the
measurement of angle of the grating.
- While taking observations, the telescope and prism table should be clamped
with the help of clamping screws.
- Both Vernier Calipers should be read.
- Slit should be as narrow as possible.
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Bibliography:
- www.edumdoptics.com
- www.astrophysics.com
- www.neport.com
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction_grating
- https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=13368