Physics 318-L

Laboratory Report




Speed of Light
Laboratory No.1






Written by: Eric Krage Lab Section 01
Lab Partner: Sarah, Haaken, Alan Date Performed: 1/23/12
Instructor: Dr. McTaggart


Abstract:
The objective of this lab was to determine the speed light in fiber optic cable and in air.
For the speed in the cable a comprehensive fiber optic apparatus was used. The speed of light
in fiber optic wire was 2.98x10^8 m/s. For in air a modulated laser was split into two beams
that were connected to a device that connected to an oscilloscope to measure the offset of the
two peaks produced. The speed of light in air was determined to be 5.29x10^8 m/s.
Apparatus

Comprehensive Fiber Optic Apparatus, Oscilloscope, modulated laser, fiber optic wire,
black circuitry control box, beam splitter, mirror, and lenses.

Fig 1. Comprehensive Fiber Optic Apparatus and setup.

Fig 2. Setup for speed of light in air
A. We included a lens that focused the beam reflected back from the mirror.

Procedure
The initial step was to become familiar with the laboratory manual and locate all the
apparatus needed. Using figure 1 to set up the fiber optic cable to the transmitter and receiver,
the oscilloscopes differential probes where attached across the transmitter and receiver to
measure the time delay. From this measurement a delay can be measured in the transmission
and reception which will allow for calculating the speed of light as well as the index of
refractions of the cable. Part B involves measuring the speed of light in air, setup figure 2 the
distance had to be shortened to allow for placement in the laboratory. The modulated laser
needs to be hooked up to the oscilloscope along with the lines coming from the photodiode
box. The laboratory was shortened to allow for 45 meters total. From this the time delay can be
measured from the laser pulse refracted off the mirror and the other off the lens. The
difference can be obtained by using the cursor on the oscilloscope.

Data
Table 1. Comprehensive Fiber Optic Apparatus Data.
Fiber Optic
Index of refraction 1.665
L
Time ns ns
c e
m
s


Table 2. Speed of light in air data
In Air
total distance
time e s ns
c

The reason for the error in Table 2 is due to the use of the lenses which when analyzed will slow
down the laser beam for every centimeter of lens it traverses.
Error Propagation

Assuming we take measurements of X and Y and some function F defines these variables, we
can do a Taylor series expansion about the most probable values of X and Y such that we can
have the first order approximation of the series.

The error in the function can then be represented as the following.

Example: Let A=A
o
e
-t/RC
.
6

Now plugging into the uncertainty formula and getting the error in terms of A we have

Sample Calculations
A c
n L

n inuex of efcion L lengh of wie nu ime
xmple
c
em
s

nL

m
ns
c

u

u ws he uisnce fom he lse o he mio imes

uisnce of bem splie o cicui box
ws he ime shif uiffence obseeu on he oscilloscope
xmple c
em
s

mm
ns

u

Result Analysis
The results for Part A were close to the speed of light in a vacuum so our results are
accepted. Part B shows more error than observed when using the other apparatus. This error
could be due to the distance being too short, which will make the delay smaller that the
oscilloscope might not pick up. Also some error could be contributed to the delay the laser
observed when traveling through the lenses and being reflected by the mirror. One thing that
improved our accuracy is the testing the delay and set up in as small of scale as possible to
make calibration easier.


Conclusion
This laboratory procedure was straight forward and provided overall concise results.
Both parts of the lab had their own challenges but once these where understood we could
compensate for them. The answers where comparable to the desired value of the speed of light
in a vacuum, to improve upon these measurements could be made by having an oscilloscope
with a higher sampling rate. This would give a more precision answer, as well as more
experience with that particular oscilloscope would also improve upon the operator error.
References
1. An introduction to Error Analysis, John R. Taylor. 2
nd
Edition

Images of set up