CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Osmea Blvd., Cebu City

Philippines 6000

PROJECT PROPOSAL
IN
OPTICS
Light can Bend Around Edges

Schenley G. Abe
Dinah Ruth G. Galo
Eliza Lyrra J. Nacar

FRI (09:00-12:00 NN)

February 4, 2014

Title
Light can Bend Around Edges

Description
Light bends when it passes around an edge or through a slit. This bending is called
diffraction. You can easily demonstrate diffraction using a laser and a slit made with two
aluminum foils. The diffraction pattern, the pattern of dark and light created when light bends
around an edge or edges, shows that light has wavelike properties.
When light diffracts off of the edge of an object, it creates a pattern of light referred to as
a diffraction pattern.

Materials

(2) stand with clamps

Scissors
A laser
Black construction paper
Discarded projector slides
Scotch tape
Thumbtacks
White screen or wall
Black spray paint

Procedure
1. Use two stands with clamps to set up a laser pointer so that its beam passes through a
slit filter onto a white screen or wall. (You can make a slit filter with an old photographic
slide. Cut out the plastic image, and tape two black paper rectangles in its place, close
together, leaving a uniform slit running vertically down the middle.) In one of the great
mysteries of light, the beam passing through the filter magically creates regions of light
and dark called a diffraction pattern. Replace the slit filter with other types of filters: slits
of different widths and shapes; holes of different sizes; a lens in front of a ball bearing.
2. You can change certain variables in your setup to create a more formal experiment. Vary
the light source to compare the differences between a laser pointer, a lab laser, an

ordinary flashlight, a flashlight with a lens, and bulbs of different types. Or study the
diffraction pattern on the screen as a function of distance between the laser and the
filter, and/or the filter and the screen.

References
Awesome Experiments in Light and Sound by Michael Anthony Dispezio (New York: Sterling.
2000). Making Waves: Finding Out about Rhythmic Motion (Boston Children's
Museum Activity Book) by Bernie Zubrowski (New York: Morrow/Avon, 1994).

http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/physics_wave-interference/

Pictures