Demonstrations

Diffraction - Pinhole

Code Number :	6C20.30
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: University of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Good
Principle :	Pinhole Diffraction
Area of Study :	Optics, Astronomy
Equipment :	Helium-neon laser (2 to 5 mw.), Optics bench, Meter stick, Mounted Pinholes.
Procedure :	Pinhole diffraction can be demonstrated with the shown apparatus. Projected onto a white screen in a darkened room it can be seen quite well. The # 100 pinhole works the best for this. Note: The closer the pinhole to the laser the easier it is to adjust.

References

V. Anantha Narayanan, "Low-Cost Diffraction Experiment," TPT, Vol. 34, # 6, p. 382, (Sept. 1996).

D. S. Burch, "Fresnel Diffraction by a Circular Aperture," AJP, 255, Vol. 53, No. 3, (March 1985).

O-550: "Pinhole with Laser," DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.

Richard E. Berg, "DEMO HINTS: Laser Diffraction", PIRA Newsletter, Vol. 3, # 11, March 31, 1989, p. 3.

Janice VanCleave, "Diffraction: The Spreading of Light," A+ Projects in Astronomy, p. 43.

Janice VanCleave, "Spreader," Help, My Science Project is Due Tomorrow, p. 94.

Robert Ehrlich, "Pin Holes in Aluminum Foil," Turning the World Inside Out, p. 204 - 205.

C. Harvey Palmer, "Experiment B18: Demonstration of the Illumination in the Airy Disk," Optics - Experiments and Demonstrations, John Hopkins Press, 1962.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille