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1. Does the order of diffraction affect the wavelength of the incident light? Justify
your answer.
2. What is the mathematical relationship between the slit separation (d) and the
diffraction grating constant (D)?
Objectives
• compute the wavelength of the incident light from the angular readings of a spec-
trometer.
Introduction
dsinθ = mλ (1)
where m is the diffraction order, λ is the light wavelength, d is the slit width (groove
spacing), and θ is the diffraction angle measured from the grating normal. Diffraction
gratings are usually graded not by their groove spacing, but by their groove density or
grating constant D, which is given by equation [2]
1
D= . (2)
d
Grating constants are usually expressed in lines/mm. In this experiment, we shall learn
to calculate the corresponding wavelength and determine the grating constant of the
dispersing element.
Materials
• Student spectrometer
• Mercury lamp
Procedure
2. Record the readings under the direct image column in Table W1.
3. Rotate the telescope clockwise. Measure the position of the first-order green spectral
line diffracted to the left of the optical axis. We now call this angle θCW .
4. Rotate the telescope counter-clockwise. Measure the position of the first order green
spectral line diffracted to the right of the optical axis. We now call this angle θCCW .
6. Calculate for |θCW –θ0CW | and |θCCW –θ0CCW |. If |θCW –θ0CW | = |θCCW –θ0CCW | then
the diffraction grating is perpendicular to the optical axis. If the absolute difference
is more than 30’, re-align the grating and perform another trial.
2. Compute the wavelength from the angular displacements of the 1st-order and 2nd-
order of colors using equation 1.
3. Calculate for the relative deviation using the table for the theoretical spectrum of
mercury given in Appendix A.
2. Plot Sin(∆θ) vs λtheo for the first and second order in Figures W1 and W2.
3. Use linear regression to obtain the slope of the fitted line. The experimental grating
constant is determined from the slope of the fitted line and the diffraction order.
Reference
1. Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. University Physics with
Modern Physics, Chapter 35. Addison Wesley, 12th edition, 2007.
Appendix A
Data Sheet
A. Calibration of Spectrometer
Table W1: Angular readings of the green line for the 100 lines/mm grating
Table W2: Angular readings of first order bright lines for the 100 lines/mm grating
Table W3: Angular readings of second order bright lines for the 100 lines/mm grating
C. Analysis
Figure W1. Sin(∆θ) vs λtheo plot for the 1st Figure W2. Sin(∆θ) vs λtheo plot for the 2nd
order diffraction order diffraction
Questions
1. What would happen if the grating is not perpendicular to the incident light? How
would this affect the experimental grating constant? Explain.
2. Where do you expect to observe the third-order green? Did you observe this exper-
imentally? Explain why or why not.
3. Compare the experimental diffraction grating constant obtained for the first order
and second order diffraction.