physics report

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diffraction1.docx

1. What is the wavelength of the laser?

Laser is a form of light and because light has waves, laser has wavelength that determines the distance over which the amplitude changes. Wavelength is therefore, the distance between two consecutive toughs or the distance between consecutive crests.

2. What is the spacing of the two slits on the two-slit device? How do the wavelength of the laser and the spacing of the slits compare?

From the equation, where d is the distance between the split and λ is the wavelength the light, it is clear that the distance is directly proportion to the wavelength. The distances from the two slits to the screen differ by an integer number of wavelengths.

3. How will the diffraction pattern change as the wavelength is made smaller and the slit spacing remains the same?

In the lab experiment, is light with shorter wavelength, for example green light, is used and everything is same, the bright fringes get closer. This can be explained from the equation below; (Delta)y= ((wavelength)L)/(d) and green light has a shorter wavelength.

4. What can you state about the relationship between wavelength and diffraction pattern when the wavelength is greater than the obstacle?

The bending of light depends on the wavelength of the light and the size of the opening (the obstacle). If the opening is larger compared to wavelength of the light, the bending will be unnoticed. However, if the size of obstacle is equal to the wavelength, the diffraction is considerable and easily seen with naked eyes (Bach, 2017). Increasing the size of the opening reduces the spread in the pattern.

5. Describe what you observe when the slit spacing is changed. What is causing this effect?

When the slit is changed, say increased, the central maximum in the diffraction pattern get narrower. The smaller the object the wave interacts with, the more the wave spread there is in the interference pattern.

6. What can you state about the relationship between slit spacing and diffraction pattern?

The distance between slit spacing is inversely proportional to fringe spacing. Therefore, in an experiment when the slits spacing are moved closer together, the bright fringe move far apart. Conversely, when the distance between two slits is increased, the fringe pacing decrease.

7. What affect does an increase in the wavelength have on the interference pattern?

The fringe spacing is directly proportional to the wavelength of the incident light. This means that if the wavelength of the light causing the interference pattern is increased, the separation of bright fringes in the interference pattern also increase.

8. Does the intensity of the light affect the diffraction pattern?

No, intensity of light does not affect the fringe spacing (diffraction pattern). The intensity of light only affect the intensity of fringes.

9. What observations can you make about the individual photon pattern as compared to the pattern from the continuous beam of photons?

Light is a wave and it made up of particle called photon. Even if one photon is shot at the double slit, there will be interference pattern formed. It is as if the photon travels through the two slits simultaneously (Bach, 2017). The concept behind the double-slit is that when photons are sent through the slits, there is a wave to produce the interference pattern. This will be observed when continuous beam of photons are used.

References Bach, R. (2017). Controlled double-slit electron diffraction. New Journal of Physics, 15(3). doi:arXiv:1210.6243