12.

3 The Young double-slit

OCR Physics A experiment
Method sheet

The diffraction grating

Specification references
 1.1.2 a) c)  1.2.2 a) j)
 1.1.3 b)  4.4.1 f) (i)
 1.1.4 d) e)  4.4.3 g) (ii)
 1.2.1 b) c) d) j)

Learning outcomes
At the end of the practical you should be able to:
 measure the wavelength of light using a diffraction grating
 use the diffraction grating equation to solve exam-style questions.

Background
In this experiment you will be observing the effect of a diffraction grating on a narrow
beam of light directed normally at the grating. By making measurements of the
diffracted beams, the wavelengths of different colours of light can be determined.

Safety
 In this experiment, you will use a low-voltage ray box. Switch off the ray box
when you are not using it, or if it becomes too hot.

Equipment and materials

 a low-voltage ray box (fitted with a  a drawing board with a sheet of
single slit) white paper pinned to it
 a low-voltage power supply for the  a millimetre ruler
ray box  a protractor
 a diffraction grating labelled with its  a sharp pencil
grating separation in number of lines
per millimetre
 a set of coloured filters

Method
1 Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 1. Direct a narrow beam of light
normally at the centre of the grating.
2 Observe that each diffracted beam either side of the zero-order beam (i.e. the
central beam) is a spectrum of colour, with blue nearer the zero-order beam
than red.
3 Sketch the pattern of diffracted beams.

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 12.3 The Young double-slit
OCR Physics A experiment
Method sheet
4 The angle of diffraction for each diffracted beam of a certain colour is the angle
between a diffracted beam of that colour and the zero-order beam.
5 Place a colour filter between the ray box and the diffraction grating, in the path of
the incident beam. This limits the wavelengths of light that pass into the diffraction
grating, allowing you to measure the properties of a single wavelength.
6 Using a protractor, measure and record the angle of diffraction (θ) for each
diffracted beam of the colour transmitted by the filter, in order from the centre. This
includes the first-, second-, and third-order beams if visible.
7 Repeat steps 5 and 6 with at least three different filter colours.
8 Use a spectrometer to measure the wavelengths of light from a light source that
gives a line spectrum.

Figure 1 Apparatus set-up

Using a spectrometer
A spectrometer can be used to measure the angles of diffraction much more
precisely than a protractor due to the Vernier scale. A diffraction grating is mounted
centrally and a narrow beam of monochromatic light (such as that from a very low
energy laser) or multi-chromatic light (such as that from a gas discharge tube) is
directed at the grating. An observing microscope can be rotated around the grating
to locate the diffracted beam. Once the beam is located, the angle of diffraction is
measured using the Vernier scale.

Results
Tabulate your measurements and show all your calculations in a table such as the
one shown below.
Filter colour or Position of first- Position of second- Position of third-
wavelength range order diffracted order diffracted order diffracted
/m beam / ° beam / ° beam / °

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 12.3 The Young double-slit
OCR Physics A experiment
Method sheet

Questions
1 Calculate the grating spacing, d, from the number of lines per metre on the
grating you are using. Remember that your grating is marked with lines per
millimetre. (1 mark)

2 The angle of diffraction, θ, for the nth order from the centre depends on the
wavelength, , of the light in accordance with the equation d sin θ  n .
Use this equation and your measurements to calculate the wavelength of the light
transmitted by the filter. (4 marks)

3 a Write down the precision of the protractor. (1 mark)

b Estimate the uncertainty in one of your calculated wavelengths. (3 marks)

4 Discuss how the accuracy of your results could be improved. (2 marks)

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