Mia Klopfenstein

Physics 309L Prelab Questions Electron Diffraction

1. Roughly what minimum accelerating voltage would you use if you wanted to use electron
diffraction to probe the structure of a material with a crystal spacing of 3.5 Angstroms
(such that its De Broglie wavelength is 3.5 Angstroms)?

ℎ
𝜆=
√2𝑚𝑒 𝑞𝑉
6.626𝐸 − 34
0.35 𝑛𝑚 =
√(2)(9.1𝐸 − 31)(1.6𝐸 − 19)(𝑉)
𝑉 = 12.3𝑉

2. The diffraction pattern we see in this experiment forms a continuous bright ring at the
end of the electron tube. What does this shape imply about the orientation of the
individual crystals? (Hint: what word is used in the lab manual to describe the graphite
target?)

This implies that the orientation of the individual crystals are polycrystalline.

3. Explain why changing the anode voltage causes the diffraction rings to change diameter.

ℎ
𝜆=
√2𝑚𝑒 𝑞𝑉

The equation shown above shows that wavelength and voltage are related. By changing the
voltage, the wavelength is changing which causes changes in the ring diameter.

4. Bragg Diffraction occurs when electrons bounce off different planes in a material like
graphite. For which two planes of atoms in graphite do we expect to see Bragg Diffraction
occur in this experiment?

The planes are (100) and (110), which give rise to the inner and outer rings in the electron
diffraction tube.