Object : Determination of the wave length of given light using the

principle of resolving power of a telescope

Apparatus : Light source (Na lamp), Traveling Microscope, Telescope, ingle
slit, double slit.

Theory :




(a)


(c)


S1
S2
D d
a

Single slit
Double slit
(d)
(b)
Single slit
S *
Source
a
Figure 1

For the single slit diffraction pattern shown in the figure 1(c), path
difference of the two light rays is equal to u sin a , where is the angular
separation of the first minimum of the diffraction pattern. Here a is the
width of the single slit.



The condition of the first minimum is given by,

) 1 (
) ( ,
sin
2 ) sin (
2
=
<< =
=
=
a
a
a
a

u
u u
u
t u

Now for the double slit plus the single slit shown in figure 1(d), the
angular separation of the two sources is given by ,


) 2 ( =
D
d
o



Where, d is the distance between the two sources while D is the distance
between the single slit and the double slit. When the two sources are just
resolved (see figure 2), then we have a situation of o u = Shape of the
diffraction pattern can be altered by varying d, D, or a, where a is the
width of the single slit.




(i) not resolved
u o <
(a)



(ii) Just resolved
o u =
(b)




(iii) well resolved
o u(
(b)



If u o < the two images overlap with each other (figure 2(a))
If o u = the two images are just separated and clear (figure 2(b))
If u o > the two images are widely separated (figure 2(c))


Where o u = , from equations (1) and (2) we have,


x m y
D
d
a
D
d
a
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
=

Procedure:

The apparatus were arranged as shown in figure (3) below. Make sure
that all the elements are perfectly aligned symmetrically on same
horizontalline.

Initially the distance D was set to a suitable value; for example, 50 cm
and then the two red lines were observed seen through the telescope.
The width of the single slit (a) was adjusted until the observed two lines
just touch each other. The two images were just resolved at this
moment.
The traveling microscope was used to measure the width a. Both a and
D was measured when the two images were just resolved.
The same procedure was Repeated for difference values of D and the
corresponding values were measured for a.
The graph a vs.D was plotted to calculate the wavelength from the
gradient.
The traveling microscope was used to measure the separation d of the
double slit.




*
Source
Colour filter
(Red)
Double slit
Figure 3
Single slit
Calculations:

m D
2
10 |

m a
2
1
10

m a
2
2
10

m a a a
5
2 1
10 | |

=

50 2.704 2.655 49
60 2.692 2.620 72
70 2.750 2.668 82
80 2.615 2.518 97
90 2.810 2.700 110
100 2.890 2.720 170


G ( 75 x 10
-2
m, 96.67 x 10
-5
m)

From the graph
m
m
m
2
5
10
10
2 . 52 101
53 146

|
.
|

\
|

=
m m
3
10 9057 . 1

=



We have
m d
m
d
d d d d
d
4
2
2 1 4 3
10 5
2
10 )] 106 . 7 100 . 7 ( ) 156 . 7 150 . 7 [(
2
) ( ) (

=
+ +
=
+ +
=



Then the equation is;


m
m
md
d
m
7
4 3
10 5285 . 9
10 5 10 9057 . 1

=
=
=
=

Error Calculations:

d
d
m
m
d m
md
md
o o

+ =
+ =
=
=
ln ln ln
) ln( ln


From the graph,


m m
m
m
m
3
1
2
5
1
10 9318 . 2
10
10
54 98
35 164

|
.
|

\
|

=



m m
m
m
m
3
2
2
5
2
10 0682 . 0
10
10
54 98
95 98

|
.
|

\
|

=

7513 . 0
10 4318 . 1
2
| 10 ) 0682 . 0 9318 . 2 ( |
2
| |
3
3
2 1
=
=

=

m
m
m
m
m m
m
o
o
o
o

Then;


Also;
08 . 0
10 5
10 01 . 0 4
)] ( ) [(
4
)] ( ) [(
)] ( ) [(
)] ( ) [(
2 ln )] ( ) ln[( ln
2
) ( ) (
4
3
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
=


=
+ +
'
=
+ +
+ + +
=
+ +
+ +
=
+ + + =
+ +
=

d
d
m
m
d
d
d d d d
d
d
d
d d d d
d d d d
d
d
d d d d
d d d d
d
d
d d d d d
d d d d
d
o
o
o o
o o o o o
o o

m
m
d
d
m
m
7
7
10 9210 . 7
10 5285 . 9 8313 . 0
08 . 0 7513 . 0

=
=
+ =
+ =
o
o

o
o o

o


Conclusion:

Wavelength of red light;

Practical Value = m
7
10 ) 9210 . 7 5285 . 9 (


Standard Value = m
7
10 7




Discussion:

It was very hard to find correct image of two red lines.We couldnt get correct
observations firstly.Then we again, adjusted the telescope and found the correct
values.
All the elements should align symmetrically on same horizontalline.If not we cant
get sharp image of two red lines.
I think our last observation got high value more than what we expected.thats why I
got some big error .
I searched on internet about this practical & I could find some important details.

The resolving power of an optical instrument refers to its ability to distinguish
between two closely spaced objects.
A diffraction pattern forms when the light passes through a circular aperture,
such as that of the lens of a telescope, a microscope, a camera or even the
human eye. The diffraction pattern limits the ability of the optical instrument
to resolve (or distinguish between) images of different objects.