EXPERIMENT NO. 2
Object: To find the wavelength of white light with the help of a plane transmission diffraction
grating.
Apparatus required: A diffraction grating, spectrometer, mercury vapour lamp, reading lens and
sprit level.
Formula used: The wavelength of any spectral lines can be calculated by the formula:
sin
sin
Where, = grating element, = angle of diffraction and = order of the spectrum
Procedure: The following initial adjustments of the spectrometer and the grating are made first.
• The spectrometer and the prism table are arranged in horizontal position by using the leveling
screws.
• The telescope is turned towards a distant object to receive a clear and sharp image.
• The slit is illuminated by a mercury vapour lamp and the slit and the collimator are suitably
adjusted to receive a narrow, vertical image of the slit.
• The telescope is turned to receive the direct ray, so that the vertical slit coincides with the
vertical crosswire. The readings of one vernier are noted. The vernier table is firmly clamped.
• Now, the telescope is rotated through 90° and is fixed in this position. The grating is mounted
vertically on the prism table with its ruled surface facing the collimator. The vernier table I
released and is slowly rotated till the reflected image coincides with the vertical crosswire.
• The leveling screws are adjusted so that the image is at the centre of the field of view of the
telescope. The prism table is fixed and after making fine adjustments with the tangential crew,
the reading of the vernier are noted. Now, the angle of incidence is 45° (Figure 1).
• The vernier table is then released and rotated exactly through 45° (or 135°) in the proper
direction so that the surface of the grating becomes normal to the incident light. The vernier
table is firmly clamped in this position.
• The telescope is then released and is brought to observe the direct image.
(B) Measurement of angles of diffraction for different colours.
The spectrum obtained in a grating is shown in Figure 2.
• Rotate the telescope to the left side of direct image and adjust the different spectral lines (violet,
yellow and red) turn by turn on the vertical cross wire for first order. Note down the reading of
both the verniers in each setting.
• Rotate the telescope further to obtain the second order spectrum and again the spectral lines on
the vertical cross wire and note the readings.
• Now rotate the telescope to the right of the direct image and repeat the above procedure for
first order as well as for second order.
• Find out the difference of the same kind of verniers (V1 fromV1 and V2 fromV2) for each spectral
line in the first order and then in the second order. The angle is twice the angle of diffraction for
that particular colour. Half of it will be angle of diffraction.
• Find out the angles of diffraction for other colours in first and second orders.
Figure 1 Setting diffraction grating normal to the incident light.
Figure 2 Orders and spectrum obtain visible through the diffraction grating.
Observations:
No. of rulings per inch on the grating, N = ………
Least count of spectrometer = ………. second
Reading of telescope for direct image = ……….
Reading of telescope after rotating it through 90° = ………
Reading of circular scale when reflected image is obtained on the cross wire = ………
Reading after rotating the prism table through 45° or 135° = ……….
Table for determination of angles of diffraction:
Order of Colour Vernier Telescope reading of spectrum on Angle of Mean θ
spectrum diffraction
Left side Right side
n θ = (a – b)/2
MSR VSR TR (a) MSR VSR TR (b)
First Violet
V1
V2 }
Yellow V1
V2 }
Red V1
V2 }
Second Violet V1
V2 }
Yellow V1
V2 }
Red V1
V2 }
MSR = Main Scale Reading, VSR = Vernier Scale Reading, TR = MSR+VSR = Total Reading.
Calculations: Grating element,
.
……..cm–1.
Where, N is number of ruling per inch on the grating.
I. The wavelength of various spectral lines in the first order (n = 1) can be calculated by
sin
sin
1
= ……… Å, = ……… Å and = ……… Å
II. Wavelength in second order (n = 2) is given by
sin
2
= ……… Å, = ……… Å and = ……… Å
Mean value of wavelength violet colour, = …….. Å
Mean value of wavelength yellow colour, = …….. Å
Mean value of wavelength red colour, = …….. Å
Result: The wavelength is given in the table.
Colour of spectral line Calculated wavelength Standard wavelength % Error
Violet 4358 Å
Yellow 5770 Å, 5791 Å
Red 6678 Å, 7065 Å
Precautions and sources of error:
(i) Before performing the experiment, the spectrometer should be adjusted.
(ii) Slit should be as narrow as possible.
(iii) Grating should be set normal to the incident light.
(iv) While taking observation, telescope and prism table should be kept fixed.
(v) Both verniers should be read.
