Objective: Demonstrate the wave nature of light and determine the wavelength
Diffraction of light by a single slit can be described as the superposition of coherent wavelets which, according to Huygens’ principle, spread out from the illuminated slit in all directions. Depending on the angle along which they propagate, the wavelets cause either constructive or destructive interference. If the width of the slit and the distance to the screen are known, then the wavelength can be calculated based on the distance between adjacent dark bands of the interference pattern.
Additionally required: Wire.
![Experiment: Diffraction by a Single Slit, 8000768 [UE4030100], Complete Experiments on Optics](/imagelibrary/UE4030100/UE4030100_01_Experiment-Diffraction-by-a-Single-Slit.jpg)
![Experiment: Diffraction by a Single Slit, 8000768 [UE4030100], Complete Experiments on Optics](/thumblibrary/UE4030100/UE4030100_01_1200_1200_Experiment-Diffraction-by-a-Single-Slit.jpg)
![Red Laser Diode, 650 nm, 1003201 [U22000], Light Sources on Stem](/thumblibrary/U22000/U22000_01_140_140_Red-Laser-Diode-650-nm.jpg)
![Laser Module, Green, 1003202 [U22001], Light Sources on Stem](/thumblibrary/U22001/U22001_01_140_140_Laser-Module-Green.jpg)
![Optical Bench K, 1000 mm, 1009696 [U8475240], Optical System Kroencke – Accessories](/thumblibrary/U8475240/U8475240_01_140_140_Optical-Bench-K-1000-mm.jpg)
![Optical Rider K, 1000862 [U8475350], Optical System Kroencke – Accessories](/thumblibrary/U8475350/U8475350_01_140_140_Optical-Rider-K.jpg)
![Holder K for Diode Laser, 1000868 [U8475550], Optical System Kroencke – Accessories](/thumblibrary/U8475550/U8475550_01_140_140_Holder-K-for-Diode-Laser.jpg)
![Adjustable Slit K, 1008519 [U8476675], Optical System Kroencke – Accessories](/thumblibrary/U8476675/U8476675_01_140_140_Adjustable-Slit-K.jpg)
![Relief Globe - 230 V, 1018440 [U78440], Globes](/thumblibrary/U78440/U78440_01_140_140_Relief-Globe-230-V.jpg)
![Plate Capacitor D, 1006798 [U8492355], Electrostatics](/thumblibrary/U8492355/U8492355_01_140_140_Plate-Capacitor-D.jpg)
![Experiment: First- and Second-Class Levers, 8000522 [UE1020200], Forces](/thumblibrary/UE1020200/UE1020200_01_140_140_Experiment-First-and-Second-Class-Levers.jpg)
![Experiment: Inclined Planes, 8000524 [UE1020400], Forces](/thumblibrary/UE1020400/UE1020400_01_140_140_Experiment-Inclined-Planes.jpg)
![Experiment: Variable g Pendulum (115 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000550 [UE1050201-115], Oscillations](/thumblibrary/UE1050201-115/UE1050201-115_01_140_140_Experiment-Variable-g-Pendulum-115-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Boyle’s Law, 8000589 [UE2040100], Gas laws](/thumblibrary/UE2040100/UE2040100_01_140_140_Experiment-Boyle-s-Law.jpg)
![Experiment: Real Gases and Critical Point (115 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000592 [UE2040300-115], Gas laws](/thumblibrary/UE2040300-115/UE2040300-115_01_140_140_Experiment-Real-Gases-and-Critical-Point-115-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Ohm’s Law (115 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000612 [UE3020320-115], Charge transport and current](/thumblibrary/UE3020320-115/UE3020320-115_01_140_140_Experiment-Ohm-s-Law-115-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Kirchhoff’s Laws (115 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000614 [UE3020330-115], Charge transport and current](/thumblibrary/UE3020330-115/UE3020330-115_01_140_140_Experiment-Kirchhoff-s-Laws-115-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Magnetic field of the Earth (115 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000623 [UE3030700-115], Magnetic fields](/thumblibrary/UE3030700-115/UE3030700-115_01_140_140_Experiment-Magnetic-field-of-the-Earth-115-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Transformers (230 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000633 [UE3040500-230], Induction](/thumblibrary/UE3040500-230/UE3040500-230_01_140_140_Experiment-Transformers-230-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Charging and Discharging a Capacitor (115 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000634 [UE3050101-115], Direct and alternating current (DC and AC)](/thumblibrary/UE3050101-115/UE3050101-115_01_140_140_Experiment-Charging-and-Discharging-a-Capacitor-115-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Lens Equation (115 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000677 [UE4010100-115], Geometric Optics](/thumblibrary/UE4010100-115/UE4010100-115_01_140_140_Experiment-Lens-Equation-115-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Diffraction by Multiple Slits and Gratings, 8000680 [UE4030200], Wave optics](/thumblibrary/UE4030200/UE4030200_01_140_140_Experiment-Diffraction-by-Multiple-Slits-and-Gratings.jpg)