light from some source through

Laser.

hsPrving a I= I, cos 0
there is no change
in the intensity of light.
l a r i ser,
er

ACTI VITY
B5()
AIM
To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit.

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

Two razor blades, a
cello-tape, source of light (electric bulb/laser pencil), a
glass plate and a
piece of biack
paper.

THEORY

1. Diffraction of light. lt is the phenomenon of bending of light arourni the corners of small obstacles or
apertures and its consequent spreading into the region of geometrical shadow. Diffraction effect is highly
pronounced if the size of the obstacle/aperture is of the order of wavelength of light.
2. Diffraction due to a single slit. Diffraction arises due to the interference of
light waves from different
parts of the same wavefront. Two razor blades with their sharp edges held parallel to, quite close to
each other (separation =A) form a fine single slit. The diffraction
pattern due to a single slit consists of
a central
bright band, surrounded on both sides by coloured bands (with electric bulb) and alternate
dark and bright bands (with laser
pencil) of decreasing intensity.
DIAGRAM
T Glass plate

Black paper

ig. 8 A fine slit made blades, glass plate and a piece of black
by using two razor one paper.

193
 LAB MANUAL PHYSICS-XII

PROCEDURE
To make fine slit blades
a
using razor

T a k e a glass plate and fix a black paper on its top with a cello-tape. Usinga razor blade .
ut a
narrow part of the black paper
slit in the central
With the help of cello-tape, fix the two razor blades. With
2 to
their sharp edges parallel
qui
and
quite
each other over the slit cut in the black paper. Thus a narrow slit is formed in
between the close
of the two razor blades. edges
To observe diffraction pattern due to single slit

3. Hold a clear electric bulb with straight filament at a distance of about 4 m behind the slit betwe
the sharp edges of the razor blades. Switch on the bulb, observe the lamp through the l veen
A
aitfraction pattern is seen with a central bright band, surrounded on both sides by coloured hand.

4. Place the slit about 0.5 m from the wall and the electric bulb at a distance of about 15- 20
cm
behind the slit. Observe the light falling on the wall. Again a coloured ditfraction pattern isseen
on
the wave.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 using a laser pencil instead of electric bulb. A diffraction pattern is seen on the
wall consisting a central bright band and alternate dark and bright bands of decreasing intensity.

CONCLUSION
Light waves incident on a fine aperture bend around its corners and show the phenomenon of
diffraction.

PRECAUTIONS
1. The edges of the two blades should be held parallel and quite close to each other.
2. The electric bulb should be held at a distance more than 2 m form the slit.

VIVA VOCE
1. What is diffraction of light 2 Ditfraction is prominent when we use a narrow slit
The phenomenon of bending of light around the having parallel edges. Such a slit can be obtained by
corners of smallobstacles or apertures and its using two blades and not by using two fingers
spreading into the regions of geometrical shadow is 5Why does the intensity of secondary maximum
called diffraction of light. become less as compared to central maximum
2. What should be the approximate slit size to observe The
central maximum is
due to the constructive
diffraction of light with it ? nterterence parts of the slit. With
of wavelets from all
The size of the slit should be of the order of the increase in the value of n, the wavelets
from lesser
wavelength of light used and lesser parts of the slit procduce constructive
3 What is the condition for first minimum in case of interterence to form a secondary maximum. Fte
the intensity of secondary maximum decreases wi
diffraction due to single slit ? the increase in the value of
If a is the slit width, then the condition for first
minimum is a sin 0

4. Why are diffraction effects more prominent through a

slit formed by two blades than through a slit formed
by two fingers ?

194