Physics

Investigatory Project

Presented by:
Aritra Biswas
Topic: Study of diffraction of light through single slit
 INDEX
 Introduction--------------------------------------3
 Diffraction
 Theory---------------------------------------------4
 Coherent Sources
 Interference of light
 Young's double slit experiment
 Diffraction through single slit
 Graph between intensity and diffraction
 Franhofer diffraction
 Fresnel Diffraction
 Experiment--------------------------------------7
 Aim
 Apparatus required
 Procedure
 Observations
 Explanation
 Calculations
 Result and Conclusion
 Sources of Error-------------------------------10
 Bibliography------------------------------------11
 INTRODUCTION
 Diffraction:
Diffraction refers to various phenomena that occur when a wave encounters
and obstacle or a slit it is defined as the bending of waves around the
corners of an obstacle or aperture into the region of geometrical shadow of
the obstacle. While diffraction occurs whenever forgetting waves encounter
such changes its effects are generally most pronounced for waves whose
wavelength is of the comparable to the dimensions of the refracting object
provides multiple cross the space openings Complex pattern of wearing
intensity and result this is due to the edition or interference of different
parts of a wave that travel to the observer links result in different phases.
Formalism of diffraction can also describe the way in which waves of finite
extent propagate in free space. The effects of diffraction of light were first
carefully observed and characterized by Francisco 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 result of
Grimaldi's observation was published posthumously in 1665. Isaac Newton
studied the effects and attributed them to inflection of light rays James
Gregory observe the diffraction pattern caused by a bird feather which was
effectively the first diffraction grating to be discovered. Thomas young
performed as celebrated experiment in 1803 demonstrating interference
from two closely slits explaining his results by interference of the waves a
emanating from the two different plates propagate as waves. Augustine
Jean Fresnel did more definitive studies and calculations of diffraction
made public in 1815 and 1818 and they gave great support to the wave
theory of light that had been advanced by Christian Huygens reinvigorated
by young against Newton's particle theory. Before understanding the
diffraction through we have to understand the coherent sources and
interference of light.
 THEORY
 Coherent Sources:
The sources of light, which emit continuous light waves of the same
wavelength, same frequency and in the same phase difference are called
coherent sources.
Conditions to obtain coherent light:
1. Two sources should be single source or by same device.
2. Two sources should give monochromatic light.
3. The path difference b/w light waves from 2 sources should be small.
 Interference of light:
It is the phenomenon of redistribution of light in a medium on account of
super positioning of light wave from two coherent sources.
1. coherent interference
2. destructive interference.

 Young’s double slit experiment:

The appearance of bright and dark fringes on screen can be explained on

the basis of interference of light. According to Huygens principle, the
monochromatic source of light illuminating the slit sends out spherical
wavefronts. Let the
solid arcs represent
the crests ant the
dotted arcs represent
the troughs. These
wavefronts reach the
slits A and B
simultaneously
which in turn,
become sources of secondary wavelets. Thus the 2 waves on superposition
 produce interference. The dots (.)represent the positions of constructive
interference, where crests of one wave falls on crests of the other and
trough falls on trough. The resultant Amplitude and hence intensity of light
is maximum at these positions. The lines joining the dots lead to points C,
E, G on the screen. Similarly, the crosses (x) represent the positions of
destructive interference, where crest of one wave falls on trough of the
other and vice-versa. The resultant amplitude and hence intensity of light is
minimum at these positions. The lines joining the crosses lead to points D,
F on the screen. Thus, we have Bright Fringes at C, E, and G and Dark
Fringes at D and F. These bright and dark fringes are placed alternatively
and they are equally spaced. These are called INTEFERENCE FRINGES.

 Diffraction through a single slit:

Consider a plane wavefront incident on the slit AB. Each point on the
incident wavefront will be a source of the secondary wavelet. Those
wavelets originate from the wavefront of the same phase.
All wavelets originate from a narrow strip on the same phase. All these
wavelets arrive at O at the same phase. These wavelengths reinforce other
effects to give maximum intensity at O.
Secondary wavelets diffracted at angle 60, reaching a general point P on the
screen. These wavelets shall not arrive at P in the same phase because these
cover unequal distance on reaching P.
If d is the slit width, Path difference between the extreme wavelets is given
by as below:
Thus, the condition for the secondary maximum is given by
Ɵ₁ = 3λ/2d
The condition for the second secondary maximum is given by
Ɵ₂ = 5λ/2d
Thus, the condition of the secondary maxima is given by
Ɵn = (2n+1)λ/2d
Thus, the condition of the secondary maxima is given by
Ɵn=(2n)λ/2d = nλ/d
Fringe Width:
The width of the secondary maxima
β =λD/d
The width of the central maximum
β =2λD/d
 Here:-
β is the fringe width
λ is the wavelength of light
D is the distance from screen and slit
 Graph between Intensity and diffraction:
There are two types of diffraction
which are:
a)Fraunhofer diffraction
b)Fresnel diffraction

 Fraunhofer diffraction:
It is defined as when the source and the screen are at an infinite distance
from the obstacle and the wavefront is plane. Fraunhofer diffraction is
observed on flat surfaces.
 Fresnel Diffraction:
This occurs when the light source lies at a finite distance from the thief.
This type of diffraction is overused.

EXPERIMENT
 Aim:
To study the diffraction due to single slit. This is only experiment which
will be discussed as this was the experiment which we did successfully
 Apparatus required:
•Two razor blades
• Two potatoes
•Comb
• A source of monochromatic light (green laser light)
• Wooden plank as screen and optical bench for base support and
• Clamp with three upright clamps for keeping the slit and laser similar to
the level of wooden plank screen.
 Procedure
1) Cut the potato in half and place two potatoes on optical bench for the
base support on the same line.
2) Then place the two-razor blade each on the corner of potatoes which will
behave as slit.
3) Then place the wooden plank in
front of the setup which will act as
screen.
4) Then carefully place the green laser
light on the clamp so that the laser light
will be at the same level as the wooden
plank screen.
 5) Then throw green laser light on the screen which must pass between the
small gap of two razor blades
6) Observe the dark and bright fringe on the screen.
 Observations:
1. On replacing the slit by the similar apparatus where the gap between
the sharp ends of the Razor is more, we get that the Fringe width have
decreased,
2. Explanation we know Fringe width is inversely proportional to the
width of the slit used. Since on increasing the gap between two sharp
ends of the blade a gap between them increases, the slit width also
increases as it acts as slit for the experiment.
3. On removing the setup away from the wall gradually the Fringe width
increases and then finally at very large distance no pattern is observed
but on bringing the setup near to the wall we find the pattern begin to
diminish.
 Explanation:
we know fringe width is directly proportional to the distance from the Slit
to the fringe screen on increasing the distance of the and the screen, the
pattern enlarges and then becomes huge so cannot he observed and only
decreasing the distance the width gets minimized.
 Calculations:
Given data:
Light source placed at 10 cm (Wavelength 532 nm + 10)
Slit placed at 20 cm
• Lens placed at 35 cm (focal length 20cm)
• Screen placed at 80 cm
• Light source placed (Wavelength 532 nm + 10)
Slit width a = 0.001m

In single slit diffraction,

The general condition for minima is given by
a sinƟ =m λ
for the first minimum (m=1)
a sin Ɵ = λ
0.01sinƟ= 5.32* 10ˉ⁷
sinƟ = 5.32*10ˉ⁷/0.001-5.32*10ˉ⁴
 Order(minimum) Ɵ(in degrees)
1 0.0343
2 0.0687
3 0.1030
4 0.1372
For condition of Maxima
D sinƟ = λ
D = slit separation
D = 0.6mm = 6 X 10
For the first maximum (m=1)
6 X 10ˉ⁴sinƟ=5.33 X 10ˉ⁷
sinƟ = [5.33 X 10ˉ⁷]/[6 X 10ˉ⁴]
=0.9 X 10ˉ³
Ɵ= Sinˉ¹ (0.9 X 10ˉ³)
Order(maximum) Ɵ(in degrees)
0(central maximum 0
1 0.687
2 0.1372
3 0.2058
 Result & Conclusion:
1) The fringe width of the diffraction pattern increases with increase in
wavelength of light used. β' is proportional to
2) The diffraction pattern has its fringe width decreasing with increase in width
of the slit.
B is inversely proportional to distance from the fringe width
3) The diffraction pattern has its fringe width blurred and enlarged on moving the
slit away from the screen and more distant and reduced on moving the slit
towards the screen.β is proportional to the
distance from the screen.
4) At central maxima, it has the brightest
fringe on the screen.
Sources Of Error:
1. The ends of the razor might be blunt and may not be smooth resulting
distorted pattern formation,
2. The room was not totally dark. So, some portions of the pattern have
incited with the light present in the room and showed incomplete
3. For the cases of two different slit width, the razor should be kept in
considerable gap difference otherwise high fluctuation of readings is
possible.
4. The source of light may have been disrupted and not stable. This
results in incomplete pattern formation.
 Bibliography
 Physics NCERT Class 12 Part 2
 Comprehensive Physics Lab manual
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction