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Youngs Double Slit Experiment Instructions Don
Youngs Double Slit Experiment Instructions Don
Paul Bender
B.Ed. Science
Oscillations and Waves
Laboratory Exercise
Introduction
The space between interference fringes due to a double slit is
𝜆𝐷
∆𝑦 =
𝑎
where a is the space between the slits. In this experiment, the space between the fringes is a
copper wire and a green laser light is used to form the fringes on a screen. The interference
fringes formed by this ‘double slit’ will be used to determine the diameter of the wire.
Instructions
1. Switch on the laser light and adjust it so that the beam falls on the middle of the ‘double slit’
and a large well-formed interference pattern is on the wall.
2. Stick a blank sheet of paper on the wall so that the interference pattern is on its middle.
3. Use a pencil to mark vertical lines on the paper at the middle of five consecutive green
fringes.
4. Measure and record the distance D between the wall and the location of the ‘double slit’.
5. Remove the paper and measure and record the distance between the first and last of the
marks in the middle of the green fringes
Requirements
1. Complete the template in the pages that follow and upload it to the course site.
Running head: DOUBLE SLIT INTERFERENCE LABORATORY REPORT
EXPERIMENT REPORT
Young’s Double Slit
2 marks
Calculations 1. Show all working for the calculation of the diameter of the wire.
NOTE: The fringe width is the average distance between the
middles of two adjacent green fringes.
Diameter of wire:
𝜆𝐷
𝑎 = ∆𝑦
(0.000000532 𝑥 2.99)𝑚
a= 3 marks
0.008𝑚
a = 0.2mm
Running head: DOUBLE SLIT INTERFERENCE LABORATORY REPORT
(0.0003±0.00001)−(0.0002±0.0000163)
% error = 𝑥 100%
(0.0003±0.00001)
% error = 28%
3 marks
Discussion Make a statement on the accuracy of the method for determining the
diameter of the wire based on the percentage error obtained.
The experiment was more accurate than inaccurate, though, the level
of inaccuracy was a large 28%. Thus, the experiment is good to use,
but may not be the best method.
2 marks
Total 15 marks