Physics & Astronomy

Diffraction Grating

Purpose
To demonstrate visually the interference pattern formed when a coherent (laser) light beam passes through various diffraction gratings.
Location
Room 146, optical bench on wall shelf V4; green diode laser, shelf P3; lens holder and diffraction gratings, shelf K5
Description
These demos can be set up on the front desk, using a Pasco optical bench propped up by a book (left photo), to create visible diffraction grating patterns on the pull-down screen (right photo). The diffraction grating set are in packs with 80, 100, 300 & 600 lines per millimeter. The gratings are in slide-holders that can be affixed to a lens holder using the thumb screw mounts, as shown.