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Diffraction in Action

This document describes two experiments on diffraction using fingers and pencils. In the first experiment, students observe that light spreads out into a pattern when viewed through a small opening made by their fingers. In the second experiment, squeezing pencils with a rubber band slit causes the light pattern viewed through the slit to change as the slit width decreases, demonstrating the property of diffraction. Students are asked to observe, describe, and explain the light patterns in both experiments.

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Eisle Keith Tapia
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86 views

Diffraction in Action

This document describes two experiments on diffraction using fingers and pencils. In the first experiment, students observe that light spreads out into a pattern when viewed through a small opening made by their fingers. In the second experiment, squeezing pencils with a rubber band slit causes the light pattern viewed through the slit to change as the slit width decreases, demonstrating the property of diffraction. Students are asked to observe, describe, and explain the light patterns in both experiments.

Uploaded by

Eisle Keith Tapia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment # __

Diffraction in Action
NAME: SECTION:
Exploration 1: Light by Your Fingers
Objecve: At the end of the activity the students should be able to:
a. describe the pattern of light that is formed from the fingertips.
b. identify the property of a light wave.
Materials: Light bulb/candle
Procedure:
Safety note:
 Stay at least 10 feet from the bulb/candle.
 Do not play with the candle and matchstick because it can burn things or even your hands or skin.

 Put the bright light bulb/candle in front of you with the vertical filament.

 Bring your forefinger and middle finger together in front of your eye to make a small opening and look
at the bulb or candle through the opening. Then observe what happened.

Guide Questions:
1. What do you see as you bring your forefinger and middle finger slightly closer together or further apart?
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2. Why do you think the light spreads out when you bring your two fingers together with a small opening?
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3. Sketch the pattern of light when you bring your two fingers together with a small opening ?

Exploration 2: Light between two pencils


Objectives:
At the end of the activity the students should be able to:
a. describe the pattern of light formed between the two pencils.
b. identify the property of a light wave.
Materials:
2 pencils, rubber bands tape and light bulb/ candle
Procedures:
 Construct a narrow slit using two pencils and two rubber bands, loop each rubber band once around one
pencil, then wrap tightly around both.
 Look at the bulb/candle through the slit between the pencils and squeeze the pencils together. Observe
what happened.
 As you squeeze the pencils together, what happens to the width of the slit. Try squeezing the pencils
gently together to decrease the slit size. Observe any changes to the pattern of light.
Guide Questions:
1. What do you see when you look at the bulb/candle through the slit between the pencils?
____________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Why do you think the light spreads out when you look at the bulb/candle through the slit between the
pencils ?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. What happens to the pattern of light when you squeeze the pencils to make the slit narrower?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Based on your observations, what was the phenomenon behind this activity?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Sketch the pattern of light when it enters through the slit of the pencils.

Generalization:
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__________________________________________________________________________________________

@EisleKeithR.Tapia’19-20

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