Required practical 2 -Double slit experiment

Equipment and apparatus

Equipment:

• Laser

• Double slit

• White screen

• Metre ruler

Step 1 of experiment

Ensuring that the laboratory is partially darkened, set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram. The single slit might not be required if the laser beam is wide enough to illuminate both the slits of the double slit.

Step 2 of experiment

Adjust the apparatus so that D is 0.500m, measured using the metre ruler

Step 3 of experiment

Measure across a large number of fringes using the ruler and divide by the number of fringe widths to find the fringe width w.

Step 4 of experiment

Increase D by 0.100m and repeat this, increasing it by 0.100m each time up to 1.500m.

Step 5 of experiment

Repeat the experiment twice more and find and record the mean w for each D.

Step 6 of experiment

If it is not quoted on the double slit, the slit separation must be measured using a vernier calliper or a travelling microscope.

Graphs and calculations

• Plot a graph of w against D and draw a line of best fit. The wavelength of the laser light will be the gradient multiplied by the slit separation

• w = λD/s => λ = ws/D = Gs, where G is the gradient

Safety

Shining a laser into someone’s eyes can be dangerous, so ensure that the lasers are pointed away from them.

Improvements and notes

Make sure that the screen and double slit are aligned perfectly normal to the laser to avoid parallax error in the measurement of the fringe width. A set square can be used in conjunction with the ruler