AIM
To find the wavelength of Sodium light by
Fresnels biprism experiment.
APPARATUS REQUIRED
Optical bench with uprights
Sodium lamp
Bipris
m
Lens
FORMULA
USED
The wavelength of the sodium light is given by the
formula in case of biprism
experiment.
= *2d
D
Where, = fringe width,
2d = distance between the two virtual sources,
D = distance between the slit and screen.
2d = (d1d2)
Where , d1 = distance between the two images formed by
the convex lens in the first position.
d2 = distance between the two images formed by
the convex lens in the second position.
THEORY
The Fresnel biprism is a prism which has one of its
angles slightly less than two right angles and two equal
small base angles. It acts like two very thin prisms
placed base to base. When rays from a slit , S,
illuminated by a monochromatic light, such as sodium
light are made to be incident on the plane face of the
biprism , the emergent rays from the two halves of the
biprism appear to diverge from two coherent virtual
sources, S1 and S2.
If a screen is placed with its plane perpendicular
to the plane containing the slit and the common
base of the biprism, the emergent beams of light
overlap on the screen producing alternate dark
and bright fringes.
If d is the distance between the two virtual
sources S1 and S2,Dis the distance between the
slit and the screen, and is the wavelength of
the monochromatic radiation, then the fringe
width, x i.e., the distance between two
consecutive dark or bright fringes is given by
To determine d , a convex lens having such a focal
length that the distance between the slot and
the focal plane of the eye-piece exceeds four
times the focal length is interposed between the
biprism and the eye-piece. The lens is adjusted so
that for two of its positions the real images of
the two virtual sources S1 and S2 are focused on
the focal plane of the eye-piece. If d1 and d 2
are the distances between the real images of S1
and S2 for two positions of the lens, then
2d = (d1 d2)
PROCEDURE
Measurement of fringe width ():
i)Find out the least count of the micrometer screw.
ii) Place the micrometer screw at such a distance from bi prism
where fringes are distinct , bright and widely spaced, say 120 cms .
iii) The cross wire is moved on one side of the fringes to avoid
backlash error. Now the cross wire is fixed at the centre of a
bright fringe.
iv) The crosswire is now moved and fixed at the centre of every
second fringe. The micrometer readings are noted. From these
observations can be calculated.
Measurement of D:
The distance between the slit and eyepiece uprights is
noted. This distance gives D . The value of D is corrected
for the bench error.
Measurement of 2d:
The distance 2d between the two virtual sources can be
measured with the help of fig.
i)To obtain the value of 2d, the positions of slit and Biprism uprights are not disturbed.
ii) A convex lens is introduced between Bi-prism and
eye-piece and moved in between to obtain the second
position where again two sharp and focused images are
obtained. The distance between two images is noted. In
the first position the distance is noted by d1.
iii) The lens is again moved towards the eye-piece to
obtain the second position where again two sharp
and focused images are obtained. The distance in
this case is denoted by d2. Knowing d1 and d2 , 2d
can be calculated by using the formula:
OBSERVATIONS
MEASUREMENT OF D
POSITION OF
SLIT
(cm)
Main Vernier Tota
Scale
l
Scal
e
170
170
POSITION OF
EYEPIECE
(cm)
Main
Vernier
Total
Scale Scale
120
120
OBSERVED
VALUE
(cm)
50
Least count of vernier scale= 0.1mm= 0.01cm
Therefore, value of D=50cm = 500mm
MEASUREMENT OF 2d
Pitch of screw = 0.5 mm
no. of divisions = 100
least count of screw = 0.005mm
MICROMETER READING (cm)
First Image
Second Image
MSR
TSR
MSR
VSR
8.5
6.0
59
36
d1 & d2
VSR
TSR
8.795
7.0
36
7.180
d1=1.614
6.180
5.5
50
5.750
d2=0.430
MEASUREMENT OF
NO. OF
FRINGES
MICROMETER
READING
a
(mm)
NO. OF
FRINGE
S
MICROMETER SEPARATION
READING
OF 10
b (mm)
FRINGES
(b-a)
8.100
11
4.400
3.700
6.200
16
2.400
3.800
11
4.400
21
1.050
3.350
Mean separation for 10 fringes = 3.600mm
Mean separation for 1 fringe = 0.360mm
RESULT
Wavelength of sodium light =
599. 7 mm
Standard value of = 589.3 mm
Percentage Error = 1.764 %
Precautions and Sources of Error:
i) The setting of uprights at the same level is essential.
ii) The slit should be vertical and narrow.
iii) Fringe shift should be removed.
iv) Bench error should be taken into account.
v) Crosswire should be fixed in the center of the fringe
while taking observations for fringe
width.
vi) The micrometer screw should be rotated only in one
direction to avoid backlash error.
Applications in Real World
Used in stereo camera system
used in single lens stereo
Bibliography
[Link]
th_interferometer#Fresnel.27s_biprism
Engineering physics by Devraj Singh
By
Sahil Bajaj
Sahil Mungia
Saras Gupta
Shailendra
