SUBHASH PUBLIC SR.

SEC. SCHOOL
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
SESSION 2024-25

DIFFRACTION
SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:
ARUSH DIXIT AKSHAYA MISHRA
XII-A PHYSICS TEACHER
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

NAME- ARUSH DIXIT

CLASS -XII A
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my humble and

sincere gratitude and special thanks to my
physics teacher and principal of the
esteemed school, MR Akshaya Mishra
who has played a key role in providing me
this wonderful opportunity to research on
the project of theme ‘DIFFRACTION’.
His inspiration and motivation boost our
confidence to do better in every field. I am
thankful towards him.
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that, Arush Dixit, a student

of class XII-A has completed his research on
the topic of ‘DIFFRACTION’ under the
guidance of MR Akshaya Mishra during the
session of 2024-25.

MR AKSHAYA MISHRA MR AKSHAYA MISHRA

NAME OF PRINCIPAL NAME OF TEACHER

SIGNATURE OF PRINCIPAL SIGNATURE OF TEACHER

 INDEX
SL.NO TOPIC PAGE.NO
INTRODUCTION
1
MECHANISM OF
2 DIFFRACTION
3 HUYGENS
PRINCIPLE
4 FRESENAL
DIFFRACTION
5 FRAUNHOFFER
DIFFRACTION
6 SINGLE SLIT
DIFFRACTION
7 DIFFRACTION-
CIRCULAR
APERTURE
8 PATTERNS

9 EXPERIMENTAL
ANALYSIS
10 APPLICATION

11 BIBLIOGRAPHY
DIFFRACTION
In our day-to-day life, DIFFRACTION is one of the most common observed
phenomena. It has a great importance in the study of light and its nature and
hence its application is essential part of Modern-day physics.

The interference or bending of waves around the corners of an obstacle or

through an aperture is referred to as phenomena of DIFFRACTION. In short
it is spreading of waves around an obstacle.

HISTORY SURROUNDING DISCOVERY OF DIFFRACTION

The effects of diffraction of light were first carefully observed and
characterized by Francesco Maria Grimaldi, who also coined the
term diffraction, from the Latin diffringere, 'to break into pieces', referring
to light breaking up into different directions. The efforts of Thomas Young
through his celebrated experiments in 1803 demonstrating interference
from two closely spaced slits proved to be a pathbreaking discovery to say
that light must propagate in form of wave.
MECHANISM OF DIFFRACTION
Light is an electromagnetic wave that travels through space at a constant
speed. When a beam of light encounters an obstacle or a slit, it diffracts, or
bends, around the edges of the obstacle or slit. The degree of diffraction
depends on the size of the obstacle or slit relative to the wavelength of the
light. If the size of the obstacle or slit is much larger than the wavelength
of the light, the diffraction is negligible, and the light behaves as if it were
traveling in a straight line. However, if the size of the obstacle or slit is
comparable to the wavelength of the light, the diffraction is significant, and
the light spreads out into a pattern of bright and dark fringes.

HUYGENS-FRESNEL PRINCIPLE
The Huygens-Fresnel principle is a fundamental principle of wave optics
that explains the mechanism of diffraction. According to this principle,
every point on a wavefront can be considered as a source of secondary
waves, which propagate in all directions with the same speed and
frequency as the original wave. The secondary waves interfere with each
other to produce the overall pattern of the diffracted wave.

The Huygens-Fresnel principle can be used to derive the diffraction pattern

produced by a single slit. When a beam of light passes through a narrow
slit, it spreads out into a pattern of bright and dark fringes on a screen
placed behind the slit. The bright fringes correspond to regions where the
waves from different parts of the slit interfere constructively, while the
dark fringes correspond to regions where the waves interfere destructively.

In conclusion, the mechanism of diffraction is a fundamental principle that

governs the behavior of waves, including light, sound, and other types of
waves. It occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle or a slit that is
comparable in size to its wavelength.
FRESENAL DIFFRACTION
When Diffraction of Light is analyzed for a light source at finite distance
from the diffracting device and point of observation or screen is also located
at finite distance from the device then the diffraction analysis is done with
the special method called ‘Fresnel Diffraction’.
FRAUNHOFFER’S DIFFRACTION
Fraunhofer diffraction is a form of wave diffraction that occurs when field
waves are passed through an aperture or slit. It is
Observed for a source that is kept at very large distance from the
Diffracting device and point of observation or the screen is also
Placed at large distance from the device.
SINGLE SLIT DIFFRACTION
Single Slit Diffraction occurs when light waves pass through a narrow
aperture or slit. As the waves spread out, they interfere with each other,
resulting in an interference pattern on a screen placed some distance away.
This pattern includes a central maximum, secondary maxima, and minima,
spreading light waves.

When light rays travelling encounter obstacle of comparable size relative to

their wavelength in their path, these light rays bend across the object and
bending causes change in optical path travelled by the light thus it generates
path difference between coherent light rays and creates interference on the
screen.
DIFFRACTION BY CIRCULAR APERTURE

Here we consider diffraction by a circular aperture that is a circular opening,

such as circular lens through which light can pass. Here the image formed by
light from laser that was directed onto a circular Aperture with a very small
diameter.

5 Must Know Facts

1. When light passes through a circular aperture, it creates a
characteristic diffraction pattern known as an Airy pattern,
which includes a central bright spot surrounded by concentric
rings.
2. The radius of the central bright spot is determined by the
wavelength of the light and the diameter of the aperture,
demonstrating how larger apertures lead to smaller diffraction
patterns.
3. Diffraction effects become more pronounced when the size of
the aperture approaches the wavelength of the light being used.
4. The intensity distribution of the diffraction pattern can be
mathematically described using Bessel functions, reflecting the
complex interaction of waves emanating from the circular
opening.
5. Applications of circular aperture diffraction include optical
instruments like cameras and telescopes, where understanding
diffraction limits helps improve image quality.
 PATTERNS
Several qualitative observations can be made of diffraction in general:

The angular spacing of the features in the diffraction pattern is

inversely proportional to the dimensions of the object causing the
diffraction. In other words: The smaller the diffracting object, the
'wider' the resulting diffraction pattern, and vice versa. (More precisely,
this is true of the sines of the angles.)

The diffraction angles are invariant under scaling; that is, they depend
only on the ratio of the wavelength to the size of the diffracting object.

When the diffracting object has a periodic structure, for example in a

diffraction grating, the features generally become sharper. The third
figure, for example, shows a comparison of a double-slit pattern with a
pattern formed by five slits, both sets of slits having the same spacing,
between the centre of one slit and the next.
 EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF
DIFFRACTION

AIM-To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit.

APPARATUS REQUIRED-Two razors’ blades, one adhesive tape/cello-

tape, source of light (electric bulb/ laser pencil), a piece of black paper, two
glass plates.

PRINCIPLE-When a beam of light passes through a fine opening

(aperture) or around a sharp obstacle, it bends around corners of the
obstacle/aperture. The light beam spreads and penetrates into the
geometrical shadow of the obstacle. This phenomenon of bending of light
around fine openings/obstacles is called diffraction and is one of the pieces
of evidence in favor of wave nature of light. It arises because of the
interference of light waves from different points of the same wave front.
Two razor blades with their sharp edges held parallel, quite close to each
other (separation being of the order of wavelength of light λ) form a fine
single slit. The diffraction pattern due to a single slit consists of a central
bright band, surrounded on both sides by colored bands (with electric
bulb) and alternate dark and bright bands (with laser pencil) of
decreasing intensity and fringe width.
PROCEDURE-

1. Make a fine, single slit using razor blades. For this purpose, take a
glass plate and fix a black paper on top of it. Cut out a narrow slit in
the central part of the black paper. Place two razor blades, side by side,
quite close to each other over this slit as shown.

2. Place a glowing clear electric lamp preferably with a straight

filament (or a laser pencil) at sufficient distance (about 4 to 8m) behind
the fine slit between the two sharp edges of the razor blades. Observe
the lamp through the slit. What do you find?

3. Alternatively, place the slit about 0.5m from the wall and the source
of light at a distance of about 15-20 cm behind the slit. Observe the
light falling on the wall.

4. Repeat the observations of steps 2 and 3 with a laser pencil. Note the
changes you observe

RESULT-Light waves incident on very fine apertures (openings) bend

around corners and exhibit phenomenon of diffraction.

FACTS-
The sharpness of diffraction fringes depends mainly on the extreme fineness
of the slit, made using razor blades, keeping them quite close to each other.

Monochromatic light from a laser pencil is preferred over ordinary electric

bulb for obtaining better effect on the screen. With ordinary light (an electric
bulb) not many fringes are observed clearly, while with a monochromatic
source (laser pencil) a large number of distinct bright and dark fringes are
observed for a reasonable width of the slit.

PRECAUTIONS-
1.Protect your eyes using sunglasses , avoid using sun light .
APPLICATION OF DIFFRACTION IN REAL LIFE

Laser Technology
Light diffraction plays a crucial role in laser technology, particularly in the
design and functionality of laser beams. Laser light undergoes diffraction when
passing through narrow slits or gratings, resulting in the formation of
interference patterns. This phenomenon is used in applications such as laser
spectroscopy, holography, and optical storage devices like CDs and DVDs. By
exploiting the principles of light diffraction, lasers enable precise measurements,
high-resolution imaging, and data storage capabilities.

Astronomy
Light diffraction is instrumental in astronomy for analysing and interpreting
celestial phenomena. Telescopes equipped with diffraction gratings or prisms
can diffuse incoming light into its component wavelengths, revealing valuable
information about the composition, temperature, and motion of distant celestial
objects. Spectroscopy, a technique based on light diffraction, allows astronomers
to study the chemical composition of stars, galaxies, and nebulae, providing
insights into their formation and evolution.

Medical Diagnostics
Light diffraction finds applications in medical diagnostics, particularly in
techniques like optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT utilizes the diffraction
of light to create high-resolution, cross-sectional images of biological tissues,
enabling non-invasive imaging and diagnosis of various medical conditions. By
analysing the diffraction patterns of reflected light, OCT can detect
abnormalities in tissues, such as retinal diseases in ophthalmology or lesions in
dermatology, facilitating early diagnosis and treatment.

CD/DVD/Blu-ray Discs
Optical discs, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, utilize light diffraction to
store and retrieve digital data. Tiny pits and lands on the surface of these discs
modulate the reflection of the laser beam, causing diffraction patterns that are
interpreted as binary data. This technology revolutionized data storage,
providing high-capacity, durable, and portable storage solutions for various
multimedia applications.
Holography
Holography relies on light diffraction to create three-dimensional images with
depth and perspective. By recording the interference pattern generated by the
interaction of coherent light waves, holographic techniques reconstruct the
wavefronts of the object, resulting in realistic 3D images. Holography finds
applications in art, entertainment, security, and medical imaging.

In conclusion, light diffraction stands as a captivating optical phenomenon that

manifests when light waves interact with obstacles or apertures, giving rise to
intricate patterns of light & dark. Its significance spans across various fields,
from laser technology & astronomy to medical diagnostics & data storage.
Through applications such as laser spectroscopy, holography, and CD/DVD
technology, we harness the principles of light diffraction to achieve precise
measurements, high-resolution imaging, & efficient data storage.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

NCERT PHYSICS TEXTBOOK CLASS

XII

Applications of Diffraction of Light -

GeeksforGeeks

https://your-physicist.com

https://www.sciencefacts.net

www.cbse.nic.in