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Title: Diffraction of Light
Version: July 1, 2006
Authors: Gil Toombes, Andrew J. Telesca, Jr., James Overhiser, MartinAlderman
Appropriate Level: Grades 9-12
Abstract: The diffraction and interference of light are easily observedphenomena that give direct, tangible evidence of the wave
nature of light. Diffraction is at the root of many technologies,
scientific techniques, and common visual phenomena. Studentsexplore diffraction by shining a laser at a hair, a variable-width
slit made from pencils, wire meshes of various size and
diffraction gratings. After an introduction to single-slit and N-slit diffraction equations, students are faced with three
challenges: (1) to measure the track spacing in a CD and
DVD, (2) to determine the relative thickness of hairs, and (3) to
estimate the diameter of a lycopodium spore. In the last twochallenges, students design their own procedure.
Time Required: Two 40-minute periods
NY Standards Met: 4.3l Diffraction occurs when waves pass by obstacles orthrough openings. The wave-length of the incident wave
and the size of the obstacle or opening affect how the
wave spreads out.
4.3m When waves of a similar nature meet, the resulting
interference may be explained using the principle of
superposition. Standing waves are a special case of
interference.
Special Notes: Diffraction of Light is a kit available from the CIPT
Equipment Lending Library, www.cns.cornell.edu/cipt/.
Center for Nanoscale Systems Institute for Physics Teachers
632 Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
www.cns.cornell.edu/cipt/
7/06
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Objectives:
To recognize that light is a wave with a small wavelength.
To learn that diffraction is the bending of waves around an obstacle, and todifferentiate this from projection.
To gain familiarity with single-slit and multi-slit diffraction patterns.
To learn that the dimensions of features in a diffraction pattern are inversely related tothe dimensions of the object causing diffraction for small angles.
To apply the diffraction equations to determine the size of features on some commonobjects, including CDs and DVDs, hairs, and lycopodium spores.
Class Time Required:
Two 40 minute periods
Teacher Preparation Time Required:
5 - 10 minutes to set out supplies
Materials Needed:
Diffraction of Light is a kit in the CIPT equipment lending library
Assumed Prior Knowledge of Students:
Students understand the definition of wavelength, interference, and diffraction
Background Information for Teachers:
History of the particle versus wave debate for light:
1. Isaac Newton (1642-1727) thought that light must be a particle
a. Light cast sharp shadows, and it was commonly thought that only particles wouldgo in perfectly straight lines in order to cast sharp shadows.
b. Water and sound waves were observed to bend around obstacles, not go instraight lines to cast sharp shadows. This wave behavior was clearly distinct fromparticle behavior, and light did not appear to exhibit such behavior.
c. Newton had incomparable status in the scientific community, so his viewdominated throughout the 1700s. (Youngs experiments in 1803 finally gave the
concept of light as a wave common acceptance.)
2. Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) thought that light must be a wave
a. In ca. 1690, Huygens attempted to persuade Newton that light was a longitudinal
wave, like sound wavesb. Huygens observed that light reflects and refracts like sound and water waves do
c. He pointed out that if the wavelength of light were small enough, diffractionwould be minimal and sharp shadows should occur.
3. Francesco Maria Grimaldi (1618-1663) thought that light must be a wave
a. He passed a beam of light through two consecutive narrow slits and onto a surface
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i. The band of light on the surface was a bit larger than the band of light enteringthe first slit. The beam had bent slightly outward at the edges of the slit. BUT
his findings were neglected!
ii. Grimaldi called this bending of the light diffraction
iii. He observed colored bands of light towards the outside (different wavelengths
of light diffract at different angles), and it remained unexplained for 150 years4. Thomas Young (1773 - 1829)
a. Young [proved that light is a wave] in 1803 by sending light through very
narrow openings and showing that separate bands of light appeared where thereshould have been nothing but the sharply shadowed boundary of the edge of the
opening. These bands of light arose from the kind of diffraction around corners
that Grimaldi had noted, and it could not be explained by the particle theory.
Young had a more conclusive piece of evidence. From his study of sound he
grew interested in the phenomenon of beats, in which two different pitches of
sound produced periods of intensified sound separated by periods of silence. This
was easily explained, since the two pitches had different wavelengths andtherefore did not keep step.
Now, then, would two light waves add up to produce darkness? If they were
particles, they couldnt; if they were waves, they could. Young introduced lightbeams through two narrow orifices. They spread out and overlapped. The
overlapping region was not a simple area of intensified light but formed a striped
pattern of alternating light and darkness, a situation (interference) exactly
analogous to beats in sound.
From his diffraction experiment Young was able to calculate the wavelength of
visible light, for it was only necessary to figure out what wavelength would allow
the observed degree of small bending. --Isaac Asimov, fromIsaac Asimovs
Biographical Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, Avon Books, 1972b. Young used double refraction to show that light waves must be transverse
5. Einstein
a. In 1905 Einstein read Planks paper in which he calculated the electromagnetic
energy radiated by a hot body. Plank was only able to get theoretical agreement
with experiment by assuming that the energy emitted by the oscillating charges of
the hot body was quantized, = hf. Plank had since distanced himself from thisstrange conclusion, but Einstein realized that h was not just a mathematical patch.
Rather, it implied that electromagnetic radiation (light) was composed of discrete
particles, each with energy = hf, and he called these particles photons.
b. Einsteins particle theory of light offered a neat explanation for the photoelectriceffect, unexplained since its 1839 discovery in France. In 1921 Einstein won the
Nobel Prize for his theory of photons.
6. Confronted with undeniable evidence that light must be both a particle and a wave,
physicists of the 1920s developed the concept of wave-particle duality to describethe nature of light. This non-intuitive conclusion is one of many that illustrates the
fundamental weirdness of the quantum mechanical world.
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Christiaan Huygens Model of Diffraction(Diffraction through an opening in a barrier)
When one drops a pebble into the water, a series
of circular periodic waves travel outward from the
impact. Huygens generalized this result into a
principle which states each of the infinite number
of points on any wavefront acts as a source of
circular waves, called wavelets, like those from
a pebble dropped into the water.
The top diagram shows seven straight wavefronts.
At the third wavefront from the top, circular
wavelets generated from point sources along the
third wavefront are drawn. Note that the circular
wavelets have the same wavelength as the straight
wavefronts had. The wavelets superimpose and
only add constructively at the location of the next
wavefront, i.e. the second wavefront from the top.
(Note that since waves are assumed to travel in thedirection indicated by the velocity vector, the
other wavefront generated at the location of the
fourth line from the top is ignored.)
The second diagram from the top shows the same
straight wavefronts approaching a barrier that has
a large opening compared to the wavelength of the
wave. The wave energy that hits the barrier
simply reflects back (not shown here). The
wavefront in between the edges of the barrier
generates plenty of circular wavelets to add up to
a straight wavefront except at the edges of the
opening. At the edges of the opening, the circularwavelets created from the outer points do not have
other wavelets to the outside to interact with. The
overall result is a mostly straight wavefront
passing through the opening with just a bit of
curving at the edges, as only a bit of the wave
energy spreads out behind the barrier.
The bottom diagram shows the outcome if the size
of the opening in the barrier is comparable to the
wavelength of the wave. In this case, the
wavefront behind the barrier has a relatively short
segment that is straight and most of the
propagated wave is curved. The wavefrontsbehind the barrier appear nearly semi-circlar.
Summary: When the size of the opening in a
barrier is large compared to the wavelength of the
wave, relatively little diffraction occurs. When
the opening is comparable to or smaller than the
wavelength, much diffraction occurs, and the
waves appear circular.
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Christiaan Huygens Model of Diffraction(Diffraction around an obstacle)
The top diagram shows straight wavefronts
approaching an obstacle that is large compared to
the wavelength of the wave. The wave energy thathits the obstacle simply reflects back (not shown
here). The wavefronts on either side of the
obstacle generate plenty of circular wavelets to add
up to a straight wavefront except in the regiondirectly behind the obstacle. At the edges of the
obstacle, the circular wavelets created from the
outer points do not have other wavelets behind the
obstacle to interfere with. The overall result is a
straight wavefront on each side of the obstacle
with curved wavefronts around the edges, as some
of the wave energy spreads into the region behind
the obstacle.
The bottom diagram shows the outcome if the sizeof the obstacle is comparable to the wavelength of
the wave. In this case, the straight wavefronts
continue on either side of the obstacle; and the
outside edge points of the obstacle are so close to
each other that the associated circular wavelets on
the two sides overlap substantially. The wave fills
in almost completely behind the obstacle, there is
no shadow cast; however, the superposition of the
wavelets behind the obstacle creates an diffraction
pattern. In the limit that the obstacle is much
smaller than the wavelength, very little diffraction
occurs, and it is as though the obstacle isnt there
at all!
Summary: When the size of an obstacle is much
larger than the wavelength of a wave, relatively
little diffraction occurs and the obstacle effectively
blocks the wave energy from the region behind it.
When the size of an obstacle comparable to the
wavelength of a wave, the wave bends around each
side of the obstacle and creates a substantial
diffraction pattern. When the obstacle is much
smaller than the wavelength, it has very little
effect on the wave.
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Answers to Questions:
Exploration 1: The "shadow" from a strand of hair
1. Carefully sketch the pattern of the light on the screen with the laser aimed at the hair.
2. Does the pattern on the screen look like a shadow of the hair? Explain. No. There
are several bright and dark fringes, rather than one dark line like a shadow.
3. Why do you think the laser beam spreads out when you put the hair in the path of thelaser? The light bends, or diffracts, around each side of the hair and spreads out.
4. What direction does the laser beam spread relative to the orientation of the hair? The
beam spreads perpendicular to the direction of the hair.
Exploration 2: Light between two pencils
1. Carefully sketch the pattern of the light on the screen with the laser aimed through the
slit.
2. Does the pattern on the screen look like a shadow of the slit? Explain. No. There are
several bright and dark fringes, rather than one bright line with darkness on either
side like a shadow.
3. What happens to the pattern when you squeeze the pencils to make the slit narrower?
The pattern of bright and dark fringes becomes wider as the slit becomes narrower.4. How does the pattern of the slit compare to the pattern of the hair? The pattern of the
slit is the same as the pattern of the hair. This is an example of Babinets Principle,
named for the man who mathematically proved that an object and its inverse alwayshave the same diffraction pattern.
Exploration 3: Wire meshes
1. Record your data in the first two columns of the table. Calculate the distance d
between adjacent wires in the mesh and put your answers in the third column.
Mesh
Distance between
nearest bright dots in
diffraction pattern (x)
Number of wires
in one millimeter
(n)
Distance between
wires
(d =1/n)
Coarse 2.5 mm 2.0 0.50 mm
Medium 5.5 mm 4.0 0.25 mmFine 8.0 mm 6.0 0.17 mm
Finest 11 mm 8.0 0.13 mm
2. How does the diffraction pattern change as the wires get closer together? The
features of the diffraction pattern spread out, i.e. the distance between the dots grows.
3. What is the mathematical relationship betweenx and n? They are directly
proportional to each other.
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4. What is the mathematical relationship betweenx and d? They are inversely related to
each other.
5. Predict the distance between nearest bright dots in the diffraction pattern if you had a
mesh with 10 wires per mm. Show work. Since x and n are directly proportional,
wires/mm10wires/mm8.0
mm11
or2
2
2
1
1 x
n
x
n
x
==
Solving for x2 gives 14 mm.
Exploration 4: Diffraction gratings
1. Organize your data in the first two columns of the table. Calculate the ratiox/L.
x L x/L
8.8 cm 10. cm 0.88
7.0 cm 8.0 cm 0.88
10.5 cm 12 cm 0.882. Why did you have to move the display screen closer to see the diffraction pattern?
The lines in the diffraction grating are much closer together than the wires of the
mesh; therefore, the features in the diffraction pattern of the grating are much fartherapart.
3. As you changed the distance between the screen and the gratingL, what remained
constant? The ratio x/L remained constant.
4. What does your answer to question 3 imply about the angle (see diagram above)?
The angle also remains constant.
Challenge 1: Measure CD and DVD track spacing1. Fill in the data table with measured distancesx1 andL. Calculatex1/L and use this to
find the angle 1 with the formula ( )Lx11
1 tan= .
Media x1(cm) L (cm) x1/L 1
CD 6.75 14.50 0.466 25.0
DVD 11.20 8.20 1.37 53.9
2. The wavelength of the red laser is approximately 670 nm. Use the diffraction
formula to calculate the distance between tracks for a CD and a DVD. Show your
work. The diffraction equation is:ndn sin=
For the CD and DVD, n = 1, and solving for d gives:
1sin=d
Substituting the values of1 from the chart and= 670 nm, d is the track spacing:
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CD track spacing 1.610-6
m or 1.6m DVD track spacing 7.110-7
m or 0.71 m
3. Use the images below to measure the track spacing on a CD and a DVD. Write your
answer in the blanks provided.
CD track spacing __1.5 m____ DVD track spacing __0.73 m_
4. How do your answers for questions (2) and (3) compare? Can you explain anydiscrepancies? The values for the CD and DVD track spacings as determined by
diffraction and by SEM images are the same to within the uncertainty of these
measured values. The accepted values for track spacing are 1.6m on a CD and
0.74 m on a DVD.
5. A CD can store 0.65 gigabytes whereas a DVD can store 4.7 gigabytes of
information. How does the DVD store more information in the same size area? The
DVD tracks are closer together than a CD, so it has a greater total length of track inwhich to store information. The smaller track width of the DVD also implies that its
bits of information are more compact and that it can store more data per given length
of track.
Challenge 2: Is your hair thicker than mine?
1. Describe your experimental procedure (include diagrams): Place each hair in the
beam of the laser and measure the width of the central maximum (from dark fringe on
one edge to dark fringe on the other). The narrower the central maximum, the widerthe hair.
2. Record your data (neatly organized) and write any calculations: Answers will vary. If
students actually calculate the width of their hairs, answers will vary approximately
from 50 to 80 m.
3. Write your conclusion: Answers will vary depending on the results of calculations in
part (2).
Challenge 3: What is the diameter of a lycopodium spore?
1. Describe your experimental procedure (include diagrams): Shine the laser through
spores thinly dispersed on a glass slide and onto a display screen. Record thewavelength of the laser, the distance to the screen, and the width of the central
maximum (center of dark fringe on one side to center of dark fringe on the other
side).
2. Record your data (neatly organized) and write any calculations: The data are:
Diameter of central bright spot = 2x1 = 1.1 cm, so x1 = 0.55 cm
Distance of spores to screen = L = 23.5 cm
From Challenge 1,
( ) ( ) === 3.15.2355.0tantan 111
1 Lx
If students simply apply the diffraction formula for a single slit, they will get
( ) m293.1sinnm670sin 1 === d
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If students use the more accurate diffraction formula for a circular object
sin22.1 d=
where d is the diameter of the circular object and is the angle to the first minimum,
they will get
( ) m353.1sinnm67022.1sin22.1 === d Measured with a microscope, Lycopodium spores from various plants range from 25
to 40 m in diameter.
3. Write your conclusion: The diameter of a Lycopodium spore is 35 m.
Tips for Teachers:
Remind students to be careful handling the lasers, to keep them lower than eye level,and to block the beam with the display screen.
When students work with the wire meshes, check that the mesh is flat and orientedperpendicular to the laser beam. If the mesh has substantial curvature or deviates
significantly from perpendicular orientation, additional bright spots will occur in the
diffraction pattern that complicate interpretation.
When viewing the diffraction pattern of the lycopodium spores, make the room asdark as possible. The rings surrounding the central bright spot are much dimmer thanit and cannot easily be seen with a lot of background light falling on the viewing
screen. A green laser, which appears brighter than a red laser, can help with viewing
the diffraction pattern. However, only the teacher should handle the green laser due
to the greater potential for eye damage.
Special Notes:
Some of the original ideas for activities in this lab are taken from a lesson developed by
the Cornell Center for Materials Research entitled,Diffraction and Interference of Light.
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DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT
What is the nature of light? Is it a wave? Is it a particle? Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
thought that light must be a particle. He noticed that light makes sharp-looking shadowsof objects. This can be explained by particles of light that travel in straight lines until
they are stopped by some object that lies in their path.display
Waves, such as water wave and sound waves, can bend around obstacles in their path.
For example, you can hear someone talking around a corner. This bending is called
diffraction. When waves are diffracted (bent), they collide with other waves and interfereto form interesting patterns called diffraction patterns.
Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) thought light must be a wave because it reflects andrefracts like sound and water waves do. He attempted to correct Newton and pointed out
that if wavelength of light were small enough, the diffraction or bending would be a verysmall effect and for most objects and sharp-looking shadows would occur.
Due to Newton's greater status within the scientific community, his particle theory of
light dominated through the 1700s. But was Newton right? You get to decide with theaid of a modern invention, the laser. The laser produces an intense, parallel beam of light
at a single wavelength, which is ideal for investigating the fundamental nature of light.
bent wavesinterfereand form adiffractionpattern
paths of wavefronts
waves comefrom a distantsource
displayscreen
light
dark(shadow)
light
screenpaths of light particles
light particlescome from adistant source
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Exploration 1: The "shadow" from a strand of hair
display
ree
sc n
aserpath of l
slide mountwith hair
laserbinderclip
sampleholder
~2 meters
(top view)
Instructions:
Take a piece of your hair and tape across the opening of an empty slide frame and
clip it with the binder clip of the sample holder.
Clip the two large binder clips on the sides of the display screen at the bottom andplace the display screen 2 meters from the hair.
Put the laser underneath the rubber bands on the mounting block, and aim the laser atthe hair and the screen.
Use the binder clip to clamp the laser on, and adjust the laser as necessary to strikethe hair directly.
Observe the laser light on the screen and answer the following questions.
Questions:
1. Carefully sketch the pattern of the light on the screen with the laser aimed at the hair.
2. Does the pattern on the screen look like a shadow of the hair? Explain.
3. Why do you think the laser beam spreads out when you put the hair in the path of the
laser?
4. What direction does the laser beam spread relative to the orientation of the hair?
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Exploration 2: Light between two pencils
pencils
Instructions:
Construct a narrow slit using two pencils and two rubber bands, as shown below:
Rest the erasers of the pencils on the table so that the laser shines through the narrowslit between them. Position the screen 2 meters behind the pencils.
Observe the pattern of the light that falls on the screen. Try squeezing the pencilsgently together to decrease the slit size. Observe any changes to the pattern of light
on the screen.
Questions:1. Carefully sketch the pattern of the light on the screen with the laser aimed through the
slit.
2. Does the pattern on the screen look like a shadow of the slit? Explain.
3. What happens to the pattern when you squeeze the pencils to make the slit narrower?
4. How does the pattern of the slit compare to the pattern of the hair?
loop each rubber band once aroundone pencil, then wrap tightly around both narrow slit
laser
binderdisplayclip
screen path of laser
2 meters
(side view)
lasermount
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Exploration 3: Wire meshes
binderclip
laser
display
screen
path of laser
wire mesh
~2 meters
(top view) sampleholder
Instructions:
Find the coarsest mesh and clamp it in the sample holder. Place the display screen 2meters from the mesh.
Aim the laser perpendicular to the mesh so that it shines through the mesh onto thescreen. Observe the pattern on the display screen.
Record the distancex between nearest bright dots on the display screen.
Place a clear plastic ruler on top of the mesh and use the handheld microscope tomeasure the number of wires n in one millimeter of the mesh. Record in the chart.
Repeat for the other wire meshes.
Questions:
1. Record your data in the first two columns of the table. Calculate the distance d
between adjacent wires in the mesh and put your answers in the third column.
Mesh
Distance between
nearest bright dots in
diffraction pattern (x)
Number of wires
in one millimeter
(n)
Distance between
wires
(d =1/n)
Coarse
Medium
Fine
Finest
2. How does the diffraction pattern change as the wires get closer together?
3. What is the mathematical relationship betweenx and n?
4. What is the mathematical relationship betweenx and d?
5. Predict the distance between nearest bright dots in the diffraction pattern if you had amesh with 10 wires per mm. Show work.
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Exploration 4: Diffraction gratings
Instructions:
Find the diffraction grating marked 1000 lines/mm and clamp it in the sampleholder. Place the display screen about 10 cm from the diffraction grating.
Aim the laser perpendicular to the grating so that it shines through the grating andonto the screen. Observe the pattern on the display screen.
Measure and record the distancex from the central bright spot to the nearest brightspot (either side is OK).
Measure and record the distanceL from the diffraction grating to the display screen.
Move the display screen two additional times and recordx andL for each newconfiguration.
Questions:
1. Organize your data in the first two columns of the table. Calculate the ratiox/L.
x L x/L
2. Why did you have to move the display screen closer to see the diffraction pattern?
3. As you changed the distance between the screen and the gratingL, what remained
constant?
4. What does your answer to question 3 imply about the angle (see diagram above)?
laser
displayscreen
diffractiongrating
L
x
(top view)
sampleholder
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The Diffraction Formula:
Approximation
(small angles only):
dxn n
For all angles:
ndn sin=
For two or more slits (identical, evenly spaced slits):
= wavelength
x = the distance between the center of the zero th order
antinode (bright fringe) and the n
th
order antinode,measured along the screen surfacen = the order of the antinode being viewedd= the distance between the centers of the slits
L = the perpendicular distance from the slits to the screen
n = the angular deviation from the 0th order antinode to the
nth
order antinode on the screen
For one slit:
x = distances as above, but measured to nodes (dark fringes)n = the order of the node being viewed
d= the width of the slit
n = the angular deviation as above, but measured to nodes
parallel light
wavelength
displayscreen
x11
Two or more slits
(top view)
object with
narrow slits
2
x2two ormore slits
d
parallel lightwavelength
displayscreen
x1 1
2
x2
dOne slit
(top view)
one slit
object withnarrow slit
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Challenge 1: Measure CD and DVD track spacing
The closely spaced, parallel tracks of a CD and DVD act just like a diffraction grating.
You can use the diffraction pattern to find the distance between the tracks.
displayscreen
CD/DVD1
1x1
sampleholder
(top view)
laser
Instructions:
Clamp the CD in the sample holder. Orient the bare section of the CD with thereflective coating removed so that it is opposite the binder clip.
Adjust the height of the CD so that the laser beam falls in the bare section. Seediagram below.
(side view)
bindercliplaser
beam
sampleholder
sector withaluminumremoved
Place the display screen about 20 cm from the CD. Adjust CD and screen so both areperpendicular to the laser beam and the diffraction pattern is symmetrical.
Measure and record the distancex1between the central bright dot and the nearestbright dot (either side) in the diffraction pattern.
Measure and record the distanceL from the CD to the display screen.
Repeat the same procedure for the DVD. You may need to move the display screencloser to observe the diffraction pattern.
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Questions:
1. Fill in the data table with measured distancesx1 andL. Calculatex1/L and use this to
find the angle 1 with the formula ( )Lx11
1 tan= .
Media x1(cm) L (cm) x1/L 1
CD
DVD
2. The wavelength of the red laser is approximately 670 nm. Use the diffraction
formula to calculate the distance between tracks for a CD and a DVD. Show your
work.
CD track spacing _______ DVD track spacing ______
3. Use the images below to measure the track spacing on a CD and a DVD. Write your
answer in the blanks provided.
DVDCD
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of a CD (left) and a DVD (right) taken at 2000X with 5 kV
beam voltage. The CD has been stamped with data, while the DVD is blank. Note the 20 m scale bar atthe bottom of both images. Images courtesy of Dr. David Tanenbaum, Pomona College.
CD track spacing _______ DVD track spacing ______
4. How do your answers for questions (2) and (3) compare? Can you explain any
discrepancies?
5. A CD can store 0.65 gigabytes whereas a DVD can store 4.7 gigabytes of
information. How does the DVD store more information in the same size area?
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Challenge 2: Is your hair thicker than mine?
Instructions:
Secure a few pieces of human hair (one of your own!).
Devise and write a procedure to determine which hair is thickest, which is thinnest,and order the hairs according to thickness.
Make measurements and record your data below. Then write your conclusion.
1. Describe your experimental procedure (include diagrams):
2. Record your data (neatly organized) and write any calculations:
3. Write your conclusion:
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Challenge 3: What is the diameter of a lycopodium spore?
Instructions:
Carefully open the container of lycopodium spores (from the lycopodium clubmoss)and sprinkle a small amount on the glass slide provided. The slide supports the
spores so that you can shine light at them.
Devise and write a procedure to estimate the diameter of the lycopodium spores,which are fairly uniform in size and roughly spherical.
Try to get the room as dark as possible to see the diffraction pattern of the spores.
Record your data and calculations below. Then write your answer.
1. Describe your experimental procedure (include diagrams):
2. Record your data (neatly organized) and write any calculations:
3. Write your conclusion:
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S d S i Diff i f Li h