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prisim
Light as a Wave motion

The spectrometer

Collimator : Produces parallel beams of light

Has a slit at one end to allow light in
Telescope : With cross threads in the eyepiece
produces a magnified image of the slit.
Turn table : Where the prisim or the diffraction grating is placed.
Can be levelled by adjusting the screws.
Vernier Scale : Used to read the angle marked in degrees.

Before using the spectrometer.

1. Level the turn table using the levelling screws and a spirit level.
2. Adjust the eyepiece of the telescope so that the cross threads are sharply focused.
3. Focus the telescope for parallel light on a distant object
4. Place the light source in front of the slit .
5. Adjust the width of the slit to give a narrow beam of light

The nature of light

1. Huygens (1600`s) proposed that light was a wave motion
but he could not demonstrate interference and diffraction of light.
2. Newton (1600`s)light travelled as a stream of fast moving bundles of energy (photons)
3. Young (1802) demonstrated diffraction and interference of light
showing that light was a wave motion.
4. Einstein(1905) When explaning the photoelectric effect proposed the dual nature of light
light is both a wave motion and and fast moving bundles of energy (photons )

Wavelength and colour

The visible spectrum consists of 7 different colours (red, orange, yellow, green blue,
indigo and violet) each of these colours has its own individual wavelength (

Monochromatic light: Is light of one wavelength only

For this wavelength there is a corresponding frequency.

Velocity of wave = frequency x wavelength

c = f x
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Youngs experiment to demonstrate the

wavelength of light.

A pattern of bright and dark lines

appears on the screen.

The bright lines show constructive interference.

The dark lines show destructive interference.

Diffraction grating : Is a transparent material with a big number of parallel lines ruled on it.

Example: A diffraction grating has 400 lines per mm ruled on it.

Calculate d the diffraction grating constant.

400 lines per mm

400 x 1000 lines per m
4 x 10 5 lines per m
d (Diffraction grating constant) = the distance between the lines.

d = 1 = 2.5 x 10-6 m
4 x 10 5

To calculate the wavelength of light

Use the formula n = d Sin

n= number of the fringe ( order )

= wavelength of light
d= diffraction grating constant
= angle made by a bright fronge with the straight through position

Problem: Monochromatic light falls normally on a diffraction grating having 500 lines per
mm. If the second order image occurs at an angle of 300 to the normal find the
wavelength of the light.
500 lines per mm 5 x 105 lines per m d = 1 = 2 x 10 -6m
5 x 10 5
N = 2 = 300 = ?
n = d Sin
2 = (2 x 10 -6) x Sin 300
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= (2 x 10 -6) x Sin 300 = 5 X 10-7 m

2

How many diffracted images ( bright spots ) are found each side of the central image ?

n = d Sin n = d Sin the maximum value for Sin = 1

 n = d x 1 n = the number of the bright spots

λ
 n = d
λ
For a given wavelength (
Small number of lines on the grating : => the distance between the lines is big ( d is large )
Resulting in a big number of bright spots.
Large number of lines on the grating: => the distance between the lines is small d is small
Resulting in a small number of bright spots.

Change Formula Result

Change the light source to
one of longer wavelength =>
Use a grating with more lines n
Increase the distance
between the grating and the
screen
n𝛌 = d Sin The angle between the the
n = d bright fringes increases =>
the fringe separation
increases. The number of
bright spots decreases.
= d Sin The angle between the the
bright fringes increases=>
n = d the fringe separation
λ increases. The number of
bright spots decreases.
n = d Sin The angle between the
bright fringes decreases
i.e. fringe separation
decreases

Aim : To measure the wavelength of

monochromatic light

n = number ( order ) of the bright spot

d = the diffraction grating constant

Tan = 0pposite = x
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Adjacent y

Find using Tan-1 x =

y
Dispersion : Is the breaking up of white light into the 7 colours of the rainbow.

Dispersion by refraction ( can be shown using a prisim )

Each wavelength is refracted by a different amount
Red the longest wavelength is refracted least
Violet the shortest wavelength is refracted most
The shortest wavelength undergoes the most refraction.
Examples: Diamonds, rainbow.

Dispersion by diffraction (can be shown using a diffraction grating )

Violet ( short wavelength ) is diffracted least
Red (long wavelength ) is diffracted most
Long wavelength undergoes most diffraction
Note : When white light is passed through a diffraction grating
several spectraare formed
One for each value of n other than n = 0
At n = 0 all 7 wavelengths are in phase and are brought together to form white light

Primary colours = red, green and blue

Secondary colours = Two primary colours mixed

Complementary colours = Secondary colour + a Primary colourWhite light

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Higher level only

Interference pattern for light

Derive the formula n = d Sin

Constructive interference happens when light from corresponding points on adjacent slits
is a whole number of wavelengths out of phase with one another i.e

From the diagram

Sin = Opposite = BC (but BC = )

Hypotenuse AB (but AB = d)
Sin =
d
d Sin = his is true for any whole number n = 1, 2, 3, 4 ….n.
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d Sin =

Polarisation : Is the restriction of the vibrations of a transverse wave to one plane only.
A longitudinal wave can not be polarised

Uses: Ploaroid sunglasses.

Stress polarisation : Material to be examined is placed between two polaroid sheets.
White light is passed through the material.
Colours are seen where the material is under stress.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

All Electromagnetic waves (i) Travel at the speed of light ( 3 x 10 8 ms-2 )

(ii) Can travel through a vacuum

Ultra Violet light : 1. Beside the violet end of the spectrum (shorter wavelength than violet)
2. Causes certain substances to flouresce e.g. tonic water, Vaseline
White shirts washed in detergent.
3. Causes sunburn and skin cancer
4. Cannot pass through ordinary glass
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5. Affects a photographic plate.

Hole in Ozone layer: Caused by Clorofluro Carbons and Methane gas.
Allows in too much UV light

Infra red: 1. Beside the red end of the spectrum (Has a longer wavelength than red)
2. It affects photographic plates and can be used to take pictures in the dark.
3. Can be detected by its heating effect using a sensitive thermometer
Greenhouse effect: Caused by the build up of CO2 in the atmosphere (burning fossil fuels)
CO2 acts like a greenhouse ( glasshouse )
Heat from the sun which has a short wavelength allowed in.
Heat Energy is absorbed by the earth and reemitted as a long wave,
which is trapped by the layer of CO2 gas. Result Global warming