LASER DIFFRACTION- MEASUREMENT OF

DIAMETER OF HUMAN HAIR, THRED AND

WIRE
PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by
ANUSHREE ANILKUMAR PILLAI
Register No: AB20PHYO12

Under the guidance of

Dr. SUSAN MATHEW

In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of

BACHELOR DEGREE OF SCIENCE IN PHYSICS

COLLEOE
ST TERESAS

ST.TERESA'S COLLEGE (AUOMOUSTON)

ERNAKULAM, KOCHI- 682011
 ST. TERESAS COLLEGE (AUTONOMUS)
ERNAKULAM

ST TERESAS COLLEGE

Name: ANUSHREE ANILKUMAR PILLAI

Register Number: AB20PHYO12

Year of work: 2022-2023
DIFFRACTION
This is to certify that this project work entitled "LASER
MEASUREMENT OF DIAMETER OF HUMAN HAIR, THREAD AND
WIRE" was done by ANUSHREE ANILKUMAR PILLAI

Staff member in charge Head of Department

Susco
DR. SUSAN MATHEW DR. PRIYA PARVATHI AMEEENA JOSE

Submitted for the university examination held in St. Teresa's college,

Ernakulam

Examiner: 1.
2.

Date: 25]o42023
* Depar
Ernakula
 DECLARATION

We, ANUSHREE ANILKUMAR PILLAI, Register No: AB20PHY012 and GAURY

KRISHNA KJ, Register No: AB20PHY031, hereby declare that this project entitled
“LASER DIFFRACTION-MEASUREMENT OF DIAMETER OF HUMAN HAIR,
THREAD, AND WIRE” is an original work done by us under the supervision and guidance
of Dr. SUSAN MATHEW, faculty, Department of Physics, St. Teresa’s Collage, in partial
fulfillment for the award of degree of Bachelor of Physics under Mahatma Gandhi
University. We further declare that this project is not partially or wholly submitted for any
other purpose and the data included in the project is collected from various sources and are
true to the best of our knowledge

1.ANUSHREE ANILKUMAR PILLAI

2.GAURY KRISHNA KJ

PLACE: ERNAKULAM

DATE:
 AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to the Management and principle of St. Teresa’s
Collage, Ernakulam for providing me the necessary infrastructure and resources for
completing this project.

I owe an immense depth of gratitude and my thanks to Dr. Susan Mathew; faculty,
Department of physics, St. Theresa’s Collage, for her guidance and complete assistant
throughout the course of work. Her sincere help has enabled me to complete this work
successfully.

My sincere thanks to all teaching and non-teaching staff of our department for their support
and help rendered.

Finally, I owe sincere gratitude to God Almighty who accompanies me in all my activities.
Laser diffraction - Measurement of diameter of
human hair, thread, wire and hole.
 ABSTRACT

In this project, the diameter of very thin objects such as hair and wire uses laser diffraction. Small
threads and holes were detected, and diffraction patterns were observed as a result of the influence
of various objects. The values obtained for wires and threads are checked by measuring their
diameter with a micrometer. The results show that the diameter of very thin samples can be
accurately determined by the diffraction method.
 Content

 CHAPTER I: Introduction

 CHAPTER 2: Theory of Laser Diffraction

 CHAPTER 3: Experimental technique and Observations

 CHAPTER 4: Conclusion and Applications

 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Diffraction is an optical phenomenon which occurs when waves bend around small obstacles,
or spread out after they pass through small openings. Diffraction occurs with all waves,
including sound waves, water waves, and electromagnetic waves such as light that the eye can
see. 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 diffraction , 'to break into
pieces', referring to light breaking up into different directions. The results of Grimaldi's
observations were published posthumously in 1665. Isaac Newton studied these effects and
attributed them to inflexion of light rays. James Gregory (1638–1675) observed the diffraction
patterns caused by a bird feather, which was effectively the first diffraction grating to be
discovered. Thomas Young performed a celebrated experiment in 1803 demonstrating
interference from two closely spaced slits. Explaining public in 1816 and 1818, and thereby gave
great support to the wave theory of light that had been advanced and reinvigorated by Young,
against Newton's particle theory his results by interference of the waves emanating from the two
different slits, he deduced that light must propagate as waves. Augustin-Jean Fresnel did more
definitive studies by Christian Huygens and calculations of diffraction, made.

Diffraction is caused by one wave of light being shifted by a diffracting object. This shift will
cause the wave to have interference with itself. Interference can be either constructive or
destructive. When interference is constructive, the intensity of the wave will increase. When
interference is destructive, the intensity will decrease, sometimes to a point where it is completely
destroyed. These patterns of interference rely on the size of the diffracting object and the size of
the wave. The strongest examples of diffraction occur in waves where the wavelength is similar to
the size of the object causing diffraction.

In Fresnel diffraction the source of light and the screen are effectively at finite distances from
the obstacle. The incident wave front is not planar. Whereas, in Fraunhoffer diffraction the source
and the screen are effectively at infinite distance from the obstacle and the incident wave front is
plane. The Fraunhoffer diffraction pattern produced by waves when they bend can be used to
determine the structure of very tiny objects, such as the diameter of a human hair, thin wires, holes,
particles etc. for this we use a highly monochromatic and coherent light source, a laser.

Laser diffraction measures particle size distributions by measuring the angular variation in
intensity of light scattered as a laser beam passes through a dispersed particulate sample. Large

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 particles scatter light at small angles relative to the laser beam and small particles scatter light at large
angles. The angular scattering intensity data is then analyzed to calculate the size of the particles
responsible for creating the scattering pattern, using the Mie theory of light scattering. The particle
size is reported as a volume equivalent sphere diameter.

Laser diffraction is a widely used particle sizing technique for materials ranging from hundreds of
nanometers up to several millimeters in size. The main reasons for its success are:

• Wide dynamic range - from submicron to the millimeter size range.

• Rapid measurements - results generated in less than a minute.
• Repeatability - large numbers of particles are sampled in each measurement.
• Instant feedback - monitor and control the particle dispersion process.
• High sample throughput - hundreds of measurements per day.
• Calibration not necessary - easily verified using standard reference materials.

For these reasons, laser diffraction is becoming the standard particle sizing technique across many
industry sectors, being faster, simpler and having better resolution than more traditional sizing
techniques such as sieve analysis.

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 CHAPTER 2
THEORY OF LASER DIFFRACTION

2.1 THE PHYSICS BEHIND LASER DIFFRACTION (LD)

When laser light (monochromatic, coherent, polarized) hits an object, diffraction phenomena
occur. For example, diffraction can be observed from apertures, slits, gratings, and particles. From
the edges of a particle, the light propagates in the form of spherical wave fronts, whose interference
then leads to the diffraction.

The diffraction angle is determined by the wavelength of the light and the size of the particle, with
angles becoming smaller with increasing particle size. For intermediately sized particles, Mie
theory can be applied to the scattering patterns to determine the size. Particles in this range and
larger have size dependent scattering patterns. Larger particles have higher scattering in the
forward direction than smaller ones

For very small particles, the interaction of light with these particles can be described by Rayleigh
scattering. In the Rayleigh regime, scattered light is weaker and almost isotropic in all spatial
directions.

2.2 SINGLE SLIT DIFFRACTION

In diffraction experiments, the slit width (a) is very much less than the separation between slit
and source. The schematic diagram is given below

The angular position of any point on the screen can be identified by θ measured from the slit
centre which divides the slit by a/2 lengths. To describe the pattern, we shall first see the condition

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for dark fringes. Also, let us divide the slit into zones of equal widths a/2. Let us consider a pair of
rays that emanate from distances a/2 from each other as shown below.

The path difference between the top two rays is obtained from the geometry.
𝑎
∆𝐿 = sin 𝜃
2
We can consider any number of ray pairings that start from a distance a/2 from one another such
as the bottom two rays in the diagram. Any arbitrary pair of rays at a distance of a/2 can be
considered. For a dark fringe, the path difference must cause destructive interference; the path
difference must be odd multiple of λ/2 where λ is the wavelength of light used

For the first fringe,

𝜆 𝑎
∆𝐿 = 2 = 2 sin 𝜃 or
𝜆 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃

For a ray emanating from any point in the slit, there exists another ray at a distance of a/2 that can
cause destructive interference. Thus, at θ = sin−1λa, there is destructive interference as any ray
emanating from a point has a counterpart that causes destructive interference. Hence, a dark fringe
is obtained.

For the next fringe, we can divide the slit into 4 equal parts of a/4 and apply the same logic. Thus,
for the second minima:

𝜆 𝑎
= sin 𝜃
2 4
2𝜆 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃
Similarly, for the nth fringe, we can divide the slit into 2n parts and condition is
𝑛𝜆 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃

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2.3 DETERMINATION OF THICKNESS OF THE MATERIAL USING LASER
DIFFRACTION

To determine the thickness of the material using laser diffraction we place the object of thickness
d in the place and laser beam is incident on it. The laser beam diffracts through the edges of the
object and forms a diffraction pattern on the screen kept at a distance D from the object.

The length of the object is perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

The minima of the intensity pattern is observed at angle 𝝷 given by,

𝑛𝜆 = 𝑑 sin 𝜃 …………………. A
Let y is the average distance of nth dark ring from the centre of the screen, then the above picture
𝑦
sin 𝜃 = ………………………..B
𝐷

The thickness of the object d is given by

𝑛𝜆𝐷
𝑑= …………………………..C
𝑦

This equation can be used to find the thickness of the object by laser diffraction.

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 CHAPTER 3

EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE AND OBSERVATION

3.1 EXPERIMENT

The experimental set up for the measurement of thickness of narrow particle using laser in our lab
is shown below. The experimental procedure is described by in the following steps.

1. Mounting bracket is obtained by making a hole at the center of the cardboard piece
mounted on a stand.
2. The object whose diameter is to be measured (for example: hair, thread or wire) is mounted
on the mounting bracket.
3. The position of laser device is adjusted so that beam strikes the hair in the mounting bracket
thereby getting diffraction pattern on the screen placed at a distance 1m from the object .
4. Record the diffraction pattern on the data sheet. Knowing the wavelength of laser and
measuring the parameters a, n and D we can calculate the thickness of the object by using
𝑛𝜆𝐷
the formula 𝑑 = 𝑦

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3.2. OBSERVATIONS.

Wavelength of Laser = 650 nm

3.2.1 THICHNESS OF HUMAN HAIR

The following pattern was plotted while determining the fringes

Sl No. Order of maxima Distance of the Spot Mean y Thickness

from the centre of 10-2 𝒏𝝀𝑫
𝒅= 𝒚
screen (cm) (m)
Left Right 10-5(m)

1. 1 2.1 1.9 2.0 3.25

2. 2 3.1 2.9 3.0 4.33

3. 3 4.0 3.8 3.9 5.00

4. 4 5.1 4.8 4.95 5.252

5. 5 6.0 5.9 5.95 5.46

Mean Thickness of Hair = 4.658 X 10-5m

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3.2.2 THICHNESS OF THREAD

Sl No. Order of maxima Distance of the Spot Mean y Thickness

from the centre of 10-2 𝒏𝝀𝑫
𝒅= 𝒚
screen y (cm) (m)
Left Right 10-4(m)

1. 3 1.3 1.2 1.25 1.56

2. 4 1.8 1.7 1.75 1.486

3. 5 2.4 2.3 2.35 1.382

4. 6 2.9 2.9 2.9 1.345

5. 7 3.5 3.4 3.45 1.319

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 Mean Thickness of Thread = 1.418×10⁻⁴m

3.2.3 THICHNESS OF WIRE

Sl No. Order of maxima Distance of the Spot Mean y Thickness

from the centre of 10-2 𝒏𝝀𝑫
𝒅= 𝒚
screen y (cm) (m)
Left Right 10-4(m)

1. 2 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.625

2. 3 1 1 1 1.95

3. 4 1.2 1.2 1.2 2.16

4. 5 1.4 1.5 1.45 2.24

5. 6 1.6 1.7 1.65 2.36

6. 7 1.8 1.9 1.85 2.45

7. 8 2 2.1 2.05 2.53

8. 9 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.54×10⁻⁴

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Mean Thickness of wire = 2. 27 ×10⁻⁴m

To check the accuracy of laser diffraction method, thickness of the wire is also measured by
using screw gauge.

Value of 1 pitch scale reading=1mm

Distance moved by screw for 6 rotations=6mm

Total number of head scale division=100 div

Value of 1 pitch scale reading 1𝑚𝑚

Least count of screw gauge= Total number of head scale division=100𝑑𝑖𝑣= 0.01mm

Zero Correction=0

Sl. No Pitch scale HSR Corrected Thickness of

reading (div) HSR (div) the wire
(mm) (mm)
1. 0 22 22 0.22
2. 0 25 25 0.25
3. 0 23 23 0.23
4. 0 22 22 0.22
5. 0 22 22 0.22

Mean Thickness of wire = 0.228mm = 2. 27 ×10⁻⁴m

The obtained value is in good agreement with the value that obtained in laser diffraction method.

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We tried the diffraction of different objects using the same laser diffraction set up and the
patterns obtained are given below.

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 CHAPTER 4

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATIONS

4.1 CONCLUSION

Laser diffraction technique is used for measuring the thickness of human hair, thread and wire.
The accuracy of measurement is checked by measuring the thickness of the wire using screw
gauge. The results are given below

Thickness of human hair found out by laser diffraction= 4.658x10-5m

Diameter of thread using laser diffraction =1.418 x10-4m

Diameter of wire using Laser diffraction = 2.27 x10-4m

Diameter of the wire using screw gauge= 2.28 x10-4m

4.1 APPLICATIONS

1. Soil Studies

The LS 13320 range of enhanced laser diffraction particle size analyzers are used to measure
particle or grain size of soil and sediment samples, a property that can be indicative of how a soil
has formed.

2. Pigment Sizing

Laser diffraction analysis enabled with polarization intensity differential scattering (PIDS) can
measure particles down to the nanometer scale (nm) by sequentially illuminating a sample with
wavelengths of alternately polarized light. This method has been used to reliably size pigment
particles as small as 10 nm.

3. Quality Control of Chemical Compounds

Enhanced laser diffraction analysis is uniquely suited to quality control (QC) applications with a
superior resolution and unmatched dynamic range compared to conventional laser diffraction
techniques. It provides a rapid assessment of the particle size distributions in powder or liquid
samples, with well over 100 light detectors enabling the resolution of subtle differences in particle
size.

4. Research and Development

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Laser diffraction analysis for R&D purposes can be complex as some instruments require prior
knowledge of a sample’s particle size characteristics, such as whether a single peak of particles is
expected or if they may be more than one population of particles such as aggregates. The LS 13320
enhanced laser diffraction analyzer does not. The software carries out complex and comprehensive
analysis of the diffraction patterns to provide an accurate particle size distribution without any
need for the operator having to guess at the expected result.

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Reference

1) Laser diffraction – Dr. Henk G

2) Textbook of optics – Dr. N. Subrahmanyam, Brijilal and Dr. M N
Avaadhanulu

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