Experiment No.
4
Diffraction grating using mercury vapor lamp
Aim and Objectives: To determine wavelength of light from mercury vapour lamp using
diffraction grating.
Apparatus: A spectrometer, a spirit level, a mercury vapour lamp, diffraction grating etc.
Diagram:
Outcome: To explain use of grating in determination of wavelength.
Theoretical Background:
Diffraction - Bending of light round the obstacle and spreading in a geometrical shadow
is called diffraction.
Diffraction grating—A plane diffraction grating is a set of a large number of parallel
equidistant slits. It is prepared by ruling equidistant parallel lines on a glass surface with a
diamond point the no of grating lines are about 15000per inch.
Consider the plane transmission grating with N number of slits. Parallel beam of
monochromatic light of wavelength λ is normally incident on grating. According to Huygens'
principle, every point in the slit becomes secondary source and gives secondary wavelets that
interfere producing intensity maxima and minima as shown in figure.
The condition for bright is given by,
(a+b) sinθ = nλ
Using this equation, wavelength of spectral line can be determined using diffraction
grating and spectrometer. Wavelength range of visible light is 4000A0 to 7000A0.
Principle: Angle of diffraction is proportional to wavelength. Hence different wavelengths are
diffracted at different angles and it gives separation.
Experimentation:
Setting - Adjust the position of the eyepiece of the telescope so that cross wires are
clearly visible. Focus the telescope on a distant object and set it for parallel rays. Level the
spectrometer with leveling screws and prism table with the help of a spirit level.
The collimator and telescope of spectrometer are adjusted for parallel rays. Fine beam of
white light is normally incident on grating that gives diffraction. Diffracted rays are made
incident on telescope which can be rotated about the axis of spectrometer. Different wavelengths
are diffracted at different angles and separated and it gives spectrum. First Telescope is adjusted
in line with collimator to obtain direct image (central maximum) of the slit at the crosswire in the
field of view of telescope. Then position of telescope is adjusted on first order principal
maximum for violet colour on one side of central maximum and angle θ between the two
positions of telescope is recorded on circular scale. Similarly angle θ is measured for different
colours. Using the equation,
(a+b) sinθ = λ Wavelength for different colours can be calculated.
Observations:
1) Least count of spectrometer =
i)Smallest division on main scale (M)=
ii)Total divisions on venier scale (V)=
Least count=L= M/V
2) The number of lines /inch on the grating N=15000
Grating element = (a+b) = 2.54/N = 2.54/15000 cm
Direct reading to telescope (A )=
OBSERVATION TABLE:
Order of Spectral Telescope reading for
spectrum colour Main Vernier Total θ=A~B sinθ
scale scale reading
(B)
1st order
Formula: (a+b) Sinθ =nλ
Where n= order of spectrum = 1
λ = wavelength to be determined
Calculations:
Result and discussion:
1) Wavelength of violet light
2) Wavelength of green light
3) Wavelength of yellow -1light
4) Wavelength of yellow -2light
Conclusion:
Questions:
1. What is diffraction grating? How it is constructed?
2. What is difference between prism spectrum and grating spectrum?
3. What is grating element? How it is related to number of slits on diffraction grating?
4. Explain whole radiation spectrum.
5. What is the principle used in this experiment?
