After a thorough reading of this entire experimental write-up, you should answer

Question

After a thorough reading of this entire experimental write-up, you should answer the following questions in the space provided and be prepared to turn them in at the start of lab. 1. Does light diffract when it passes through a window? If your answer is no, explain why not. If your answer is yes, explain why we don't routinely observe diffraction patterns. 2. Suppose you observe a series of diffraction minima and plot sin theta_m vs. m for those minima. What type of graph would you expect get? Describe not only the shape of the graph but also the parameters that would describe it. 3. Suppose you observe a series of interference maxima and plot sin theta_n vs. n for those maxima. What type of graph would you expect get? Describe not only the shape of the graph but also the parameters that would describe it.

Explanation / Answer

1) The primary condition for a diffraction is to balance the wavelength of the light with the thickness of the medium. Now if we consider a general window where the bars look similar to the slits still we cannot get any diffraction. In practial we may get some edge diffraction but not the ideal pattern of maxima and minima.First of all the window length is not balancing the wavelength of light and secondly most of the light waves pass parallely obstructing the interference. However, the edge diffraction can be seen if the lights is coming from outside of a drak room and observer is inside.

2) The graph will be inverted u pattern. The pattern is of the light intensity in the terms of the given angle. A the light concentration will be at the central diffraction maxima therefore the first minima will be identified in the point where we get wavelength/slit width value. The light intensity is considered as the amplitude^2 which makes the cental maximum equivalent to the reciprocal of slit width. The diffraction minima (first) will dependent on the screen distance, wavelength and the given angle.

3) The shape will be of invereted u pattern with movement in the opposite direction of minima. Conidering the condition of getting maxima the screen distance will be greater than wavelength of the light.

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