SCHOOL OF PHYSICS

Physics 1001: Laboratory 6.

Newtons Rings.
Your name/student number:_________________________________
Date:_________ Markers signature:______________ Mark:______

Pre-lab Question 1:

Lenses for spectacles, cameras or binoculars often have an antireflective

coating that reduces the amount of visible light reflected from their surfaces.
Explain, using a diagram, the principle behind how such coatings work.

Pre-lab Question 2:

In this experiment a curved lens is placed on a flat glass surface and then
illuminated with monochromatic light. An interference pattern is seen with a
dark spot in the centre, why is this central spot dark?

Pre-lab Question 3:

What might have happened to your set up if you see a bright spot at the
centre?

Part 1. Measuring the curvature of the lens.

First calibrate the zero point for the spherometer by taking the zero reading: z = __________ mm.
Now make the measurement on the lens: l = __________ mm.
Correct for the zero point: h = l z = __________ mm.

Record the radius of the spherometer legs: s = __________ mm.

Now the radius of curvature of the lens can be calculated using the formula in the lab manual:
R = __________ mm.

Part 2. Measuring Newtons rings.

Set up the equipment to view Newtons rings as described in the lab manual. The aim of this section is to
measure the wavelength of the light and check the consistency of the relationship:
rm2 = m R,
where m is the number of the ring (the central dark spot is m = 0), rm is the radius of the mth ring, is the
wavelength of the light and R is the radius of curvature of the lens. Both of the objectives of the experiment
can be achieved by making a plot of rm2 vs. m. Try to measure the radii of the first 15 rings (any more you can
get are good too).

Table of the measured radii of Newtons rings.

Ring number, m
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Radius, rm

rm2

Plot of rm2 vs. m.

14
13
12
11
10

Radius squared, mm2

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Ring number

Does your graph confirm that the form of the relationship given above is appropiate?

What is the gradient of your line of best fit? __________.

What is the measured wavelength of the sodium lamp? __________ nm.
How does this compare to the standard value of 598 nm?

What would it mean if your line has a non-zero intercept?