Date: 20/12/2006 Grade:

Physics 210L
Michelson Interferometer

1. Data:
Determination of the wavelength of the LASER:

dm (m) N  (m) Eq. (1)

33.1 100 0.662
29.2 100 0.584
30.0 100 0.600
32.3 100 0.646
35.0 100 0.700

Calculate the average value of l and its rms error. Compare the expected value and
comment.

m Mean value)

±m

b. Determination of the index of refraction of air: (l=3.00 cm and  = 632.8 nm)

Trials N nair (Eq.5)

1 11 1.00012
2 12 1.00013
3 12 1.00013
4 12 1.00013
5 11 1.00012

Calculate the average of nair and its rms error. Compare to the expected value and
comment.

nair = 1.000126 ± 0.000002

c. Determination of the index of refraction of glass:

Thickness of plate: 0.54 cm.

1
 N  Nglass (Eq.6)
110 11o 1.53
160 12o 1.73
150 11.7o 1.72
147 11.3o 1.78
170 12.05o 1.81

Calculate the average of nglass and its rms error. Compare to the expected value and
comment.

Nglass = 1.714 I used this one glass, borosilicate (pyrex) 1.474

Nglass =1.71 ± 0.05 glass, crown (soda-lime) 1.512
glass, flint (29% lead) 1.569
glass, flint (55% lead) 1.669
glass, flint (71% lead) 1.805
glass, fused silica 1.459

1. In the calculation to determine the value of λ based on the micrometer

movement, why was dm multiplied by two?

THIS IS BECAUSE A WAVE HAS TWO ABSOLUTE MAXIMUMS WHERE ONE IS A MINIMUM
AND THE OTHER IS A MAXIMUM. HOWEVER, THERE IS CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
AT BOTH OF THESE EXTREMAS. SO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THAT WE SAW WERE FROM THE
MAXIMUMS AND THE MINIMUMS OF EACH WAVELENGTH, MEANING THAT EVERY TWO
BRIGHT LIGHTS CORRESPONDED TO ONE WAVELENGTH.

2. To what do you attribute this difference between the measured value of nglass
& accurately known value of nglass?

THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR ERROR BUT OUR RESULTS SHOW THAT WHAT WE DID
WAS FAIRLY ACCURATE. OUR READINGS WERE VERY PRECISE ALL THROUGH. NOW
THE REASON FOR ERROR IN THE INDEX OF REFRACTION IN GLASS COULD BE TO THE
FACT THAT THE GLASS ISN'T THAT PURE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE VARIOUS
INDEXES OF REFRACTIONS OF GLASS, EACH TYPE OF GLASS HAS A DIFFERENT
COMPOSITION. SO THERE MAY BE IMPROPER MEASUREMENTS FOR THE COMPOSITION
OF GLASS. THE GLASS MAY NOT BE AS CLEAR AS IT SHOULD BE WHICH WOULD REPEL
SOME OF THE LASER BEAM'S RAYS. OF COURSE THE EQUIPMENT IN GENERAL MAY NOT
BE ACCURATE. ALSO OUR READING OF THE MEASUREMENTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO
PRECISE BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS DELICATE. SO THERE ARE MANY SOURCES OF
ERROR FOR FINDING THE INDEX OF REFRACTION OF GLASS.