Name:- Shouvik Mitra

UG Sem 2

IACS/UG/028

Indian Association for the cultivation of

Science.

Sub:- Physics Practical

Diffraction Gratings
Aim:- To verify the principle maxima of gratings and plot sin θvs λ.
Apparatus: 1. Diffraction grating
2. Spectrometer
3. Mercury source (Hg)
4. Spirit level
5. Reading lamp and reading lens
Theory: Diffraction grating is an arrangement of large number of equidistant and parallel slits (Fig 2.1). One of the
techniques to manufacture diffraction grating is to rule the equidistant lines on glass plate. Typical diffraction gratings
consist of 15000-20000 lines per inch (this number can reach up to 100000 lines per inch). The qualities i.e. dispersive
power and resolving power depend upon number of slits and slit density.
Using theory of diffraction to multiple slits, following grating equation can be derived
𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃=𝑚𝜆 (2.1)
Where d = grating element
θ = angle of diffraction
m = order of spectrum
λ = wavelength of light
In equation (2.1), d and m are constant. This implies that θ is proportional to λ. Thus if a grating is exposed to light from
polychromatic source, the colors are separated on account of their different wavelengths. Thus diffraction grating can
form the spectrum of the light. With respect to dispersive power and resolving power, grating is far better than prism.
Further, if d and m are known and if θ is measured then λ, the wavelength of spectral lines can be calculated. Due to it’s
ability to form well resolved spectrum and calculation of wavelengths, diffraction grating finds applications in
spectrometers. Such spectrometers (Fig 2.2) find applications in an important discipline called spectroscopy, a technique
extremely useful in science and technology. Each source has it’s own characteristic spectrum. In spectroscopy the
spectra of various atomic or molecular species are analyzed to evaluate the properties of the sources. A few applications
of spectroscopy are - understanding the structure and properties of atoms and molecules, detection of various elements
in planets and stars, study of various effects such as Zeeman effect, Raman effect, Stark effect etc.
 Fig 2.1 Diffraction grating

Fig 2.2 Spectrometer

Fig 2.3 Definition of 2θ

Procedure:-
1. At first calculate the grating element d of the grating by using following formula
1 2.54 2.54 × 108
d= inches= cms=
N N N
 Where N = Number of slits per inch = 15000 slits per inch
2. Switch on the Mercury source.
3. Level the all parts of spectrometer such as telescope, collimator, grating table etc. using
spirit level.
4. Bring the slit of collimator in front of spectrometer. Adjust the slit width optimum value.
5. Adjust the telescope and collimator for sharp images using prism and Schuster’s method
6. Mount the diffraction grating on the table such that it’s plane is exactly perpendicular to
collimator axis as well as the table
7. Observe the central image of slit through telescope. This image is white, as colors can not
be separated in zeroth order. This is called as zeroth order spectrum. Make the image sharp
by focusing the telescope and collimator
8. Unlike prism, grating produces multiple spectra. Move the telescope on both sides of the
central image to observe the first as well as second order spectra on both the sides of the
central image. The second order spectrum is faint as compared to first order. So consider
first orderspectrum for observations. Thus the order of spectrum m in Eqn (2.1) is 1. The
first order spectrum consists of four prominent lines namely violet, green, yellow
(doublet) and red. The other relatively faint lines are purple and orange.
9. Move the telescope on left hand side and adjust the cross wire on violet line. Clamp the
telescope. Measure the angular position θ1 of the violet line, by using following
procedure

𝜃1 = 𝑀𝑆𝑅 + 𝑉𝑆𝑅 × 𝐿𝐶

Where MSR: Main scale reading: a reading on the scale which coincides
with the zero of the vernier scale. If no reading coincides then MSR is the
reading on the main scale previous to zero of the vernier scale.
VSR: Vernier scale reading is the sequence number of the division on the
vernier scale which exactly coincides with the division on main scale
LC = Least count of the angular scale.

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒 (𝑋)
𝐿𝐶 = = 0.5ο = 30′ = 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒 (𝑌) 30 30

10. Now unclamp the telescope and move it on right side of the central image and focus the
cross wire on the violet line. Measure it’s position θ2 by using the procedure in step 9.
11. Calculate θ by using following procedure

Δθ
2 θ=|θ2−θ1|∧θ=
2

Observations
For n=1
Angular positions
 Fringe Left, 1 Right, 2 Angle of Standard
Sr. Spectral Side (deg. min.) (deg. min.) 2 diffraction Sin Wavelength
No. Line 1 (deg)  s(nm)
(deg)
1 Violet Right 172° 325° 10.7125 5.35 0.09334 365.4
Left 160°20’40” 342°32’20”
2 Blue Right 172°33’20” 352°3’20” 10.33 5.165 0.0900 435.8
Left 162°16’20” 341°40’40”
3 Green Right 173°26’20” 353°40’ 13.03355 6.516775 0.113494 546.1
Left 160°21’20” 340°43’40”
4 Yellow Right 174°10” 354°11” 13.8963 6.94815 0.120971 578.2
Left 160°12’40” 340°5”
5 Orange Right 174°24’40” 354°20” 14.305 7.1525 0.12451 579.1
Left 160°1’40” 339°46’40”
6 Red Right 174°26’40” 354°20’40” 14.7275 7.30375 0.1281681 650
Left 159°55’20” 339°24’40”
For n=2
Angular positions Angle of Standard
Sr. Spectral Fringe Left, 1 Right, 2 2 diffraction Sin Wavelength
No. Line Side (deg. min.) (deg. min.) (deg)  s(nm)
1 (deg)
1 Violet Right 179°3’20” 359° 21.4774 10.7387 0.186330 365.4
Left 157°1’ 338°5’
2 Green Right 181°48’20” 1°40’ 26.669 13.3345 0.2306 546.1
Left 155°1’20” 335°6’40”
3 Yellow Right 182°36’40” 2°41’20” 28.116 14.058 0.24290 578.2
Left 154°28’40” 334°35’20”
4 Orange Right 182°2’40” 3°3’40” 28.497 14.2485 0.24612 579.1
Left 154°3” 334°3’40”
6 Red Right 183°53’40” 3°41’20” 30.394 15.197 0.26213 650
Left 153°24’20” 333°23’20”

Graph:
For n=1
For n=2
Conclusion:-

The graph is near about to the straight line. Thus verifies the maxima formula of Diffraction
gratings

Precautions:-

1. The spectrometer should be levelled.

2. The fringe width should be small so to have larger accuracy.
3. The eyepiece should focused perfectly at the fringe.