Resolving Power of Diffraction Grating

Date: ___________

Aim: To Determine the Resolving power of a plane transmission diffraction grating.

Objectives: a) To define the resolving power of an optical instrument.

b) To understand the concept of resolution of two neighboring spectral
lines.
c) To determine the angle of diffraction for two very close spectra lines.
d) To develop the experimental measurement skill.
e) To differentiate between optical instrument on the basis of their Resolving
power.

Apparatus: Spectrometer, diffraction grating, mercury light source and spirit level.

Diagram:

Theory:
Resolving power of a grating is its ability to show two neighboring spectral lines in its
spectrum as separate. If λ and λ+dλ are wavelength of two neighboring spectral lines,
𝜆
then the resolving power of the grating for the spectra line with wavelength λ is the
𝑑𝜆

By Rayleigh’s criterion for resolution, when the two spectral lines are just resolved then
λ
the resolving power of grating = nN1 where n is the order of spectral line and N1 is
dλ
the total number of lines (slits) on the given grating.

Procedure:
Follow the procedure of Diffraction Grating so as to determine wavelengths of two
very close spectral lines (Doublet of either yellow or red colour).

1
Observations:

A) Diffraction Grating
N = ______________ Number of Slits per Inch.
1
d ( Grating element ) = 𝑑 = 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 = _______________ inches
𝑁

Grating element, (a + b) = __________mm = ____________ cm = ____________ A°

B) Spectrometer
The Least count of spectrometer is _______ minutes.

Observation Table:
Order of diffraction: m = _________
Spectrum on LHS Spectrum on RHS
Spectra ӨL1 ӨR1 ӨL2 ӨR2 θleft= θRight=
𝟏 𝟏
line Left Right Left Right |Ө -
𝟐 L1
ӨL2| |Ө -
𝟐 R1
ӨR2|
Window Window Window Window
Yellow 1
Yellow 2
Red 1
Red 2

Calculations:
Mean Shift in the Resolving
𝟏 Wavelength wavelength Power
Spectra Spectra θmean= sin θ λ(A )=
o
𝟐
Color Line (Δθleft+ΔθRight) d sinθ/m 𝜆1 + 𝜆2 𝜆
𝜆= 𝑑𝜆 = 𝜆2 − 𝜆1
2 𝑑𝜆
Y1
Yellow
Y2
R1
Red
R2

Result:
The resolving power of the given diffraction grating is ____________

Exercises and Viva Questions:

1. State the relationship of resolving power of diffraction grating with respect to the
wavelength of light and the order of diffraction.
2. Differentiate between resolving power of grating and telescope.
3. Diffraction grating can separate the colours of light. How?