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Core Practical 6 - Investigating Diffraction Gratings - Edexcel International A Level Physics Revision Notes 2018

Physics Grating Practical

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92 views6 pages

Core Practical 6 - Investigating Diffraction Gratings - Edexcel International A Level Physics Revision Notes 2018

Physics Grating Practical

Uploaded by

fredhkgo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Launchpad Edexcel International A Level Physics Revision Notes

Core Practical 6: Investigating


Diffraction Gratings
Author Last updated
Lindsay Gilmour 18 November 2024

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Core Practical 6: Investigating Diffraction


Gratings
Aim of the Experiment
To find the wavelength of light using a diffraction grating
Variables
Independent variable = Distance between maxima, h
Dependent variable = The angle between the normal and each order, θn (where n =
1, 2, 3 etc)
Control variables
Distance between the slits and the screen, D
Laser wavelength, λ
Slit separation, d

Equipment List
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Resolution of measuring equipment:


Metre ruler = 1 mm
Vernier Callipers = 0.01 mm

Method

The setup of apparatus required to measure the distance between maxima h at


different angles θ
1. Place the laser on a retort stand with the diffraction grating in front of it
2. Use a set square to ensure the beam passes through the grating at normal
incidence and meets the screen perpendicularly
3. Set the distance D between the grating and the screen to be 1.0 m using a metre
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4. Darken the room and turn on the laser
5. Identify the zero-order maximum (the central beam)
6. Measure the distance h to the nearest two first-order maxima (i.e. n = 1, n = 2) using
a vernier calliper
7. Calculate the mean of these two values
8. Measure distance h for increasing orders
9. Repeat with a diffraction grating with a different number of slits per mm
An example table might look like this:

Analysing the Results


The diffraction grating equation is given by:
nλ = d sin θ
Where:
n = the order of the diffraction pattern
λ = the wavelength of the laser light (m)
d = the distance between the slits (m)
θ = the angle between the normal and the maxima (°)

The distance between the slits is equal to:

Where
N = the number of slits per metre (m–1)
Since the angle is not small, it must be calculated using trigonometry with the
measurements for the distance between maxima, h, and the distance between the
slits and the screen, D
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Calculate a mean θ value for each order


Calculate a mean value for the wavelength of the laser light and compare the value
with the accepted wavelength
This is usually 635 nm for a standard school red laser

Evaluating the Experiments


Systematic errors:
Ensure the use of the set square to avoid parallax error in the measurement of the
fringe width
Using a grating with more lines per mm will result in greater values of h. This lowers
its percentage uncertainty
Random errors:
The fringe spacing can be subjective depending on its intensity on the screen,
therefore, take multiple measurements of w and h (between 3-8) and find the
average
Use a Vernier scale to record distances w and h to reduce percentage uncertainty
Reduce the uncertainty in w and h by measuring across all visible fringes and
dividing by the number of fringes
Increase the grating to screen distance D to increase the fringe separation
(although this may decrease the intensity of light reaching the screen)
Conduct the experiment in a darkened room, so the fringes are clear

Safety Considerations
Lasers should be Class 2 and have a maximum output of no more than 1 mW
Do not allow laser beams to shine into anyone’s eyes
Remove reflective surfaces from the room to ensure no laser light is reflected into
anyone’s eyes

Worked Example
A student investigates the interference patterns produced by two different
diffraction gratings. One grating used was marked 100 slits / mm, and the other was
marked 300 slits / mm. The distance between the grating and the screen is measured
to be 3.75 m.
The student recorded the distance between adjacent maxima after passing a
monochromatic laser source through each grating. These results are shown in the
tables below.
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Calculate the mean wavelength of the laser light and compare it with the accepted
value of 635 nm. Assess the percentage uncertainty in this result.
Answer:
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