Lazers

Alfredo Martinez

Physics department

Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science

March,11,2016

Abstract:
The goal was shoot lasers at a piece of plastic that did space magic that diffracts the
laser.

Introduction:

The goal of the lab was to find the wavelength of the laser pointer by aiming it at a
piece of plastic that will diffract the laser and works similar to shining light through a
double slit. There are 3 types of lasers that we could have used in this lab each with a
different wavelength we all had enough time to do one in class but were given more
time to do all 3.
Theory: In theory we should be able to find the wavelength by measuring 2 thing and
knowing what the diffraction in the plastic.
We can use the two equation tan() =( x / L )
and sin() =( wavelength/ diffraction grating
plastic ). Sin is equal to tan so that means we
can get everything to find the wavelength.

Experimental Details:
we should be able to find the wavelength of
the laser pointers by aiming though the
plastic then measuring the distance
between the laser dot on the table to the
plastic thing. We then need to find the
distance between two of the dots on the
table or the distance between all 3 dots
divided by 2 which will be x. Now we use
the equation tan() =( x / L ) we get the tangent so now we use the equation sin()
=( wavelength/ diffraction grating plastic ) your time the D with the sin() and we get
wavelength.

Results:
We were in range for all three of the laser pointers wavelength ranges. The lasers
ranges where all different the red was 630-680 nm, Green was 539 + or - 20, and blue
is 405+-10
Conclusion:
If you know the diffraction of the the plastic and have a laser you can find its
wavelength.