The Fresnel Biprism

Name: Matthew Berkeley

Date: 14th April 2010
Student Number: 08489416
Abstract
In this experiment the wavelength of sodium light is to be determined using the Fresnel
biprism method. Despite diculties in accurately positioning the apparatus, the result
obtained 580 80nm agreed with the accepted value, albeit with an unfortunately large
error.
Theory
This experiment explores the Fresnel biprism method to accurately measure the wave-
length of sodium light. The experiment is a variation on Youngs double slit experiment,
because the biprism simulates two distinct slits by splitting a single slit coming from a
light source. The diagram below shows this more clearly. For the Youngs slit experiment,
the separation of fringes, s, formed by two narrow slits of separation d, when observed
a distance D away, is given by s =
D
d
, where is the wavelength of the light used.
The only dierence between the Youngs slit experiment and the Fresnel biprism is that
d cannot be measured directly, since the two slits are only virtual ones. Instead, the
distance is determined by placing a lens between the biprism and the screen and forming
real images of the virtual slits on the screen. There will in general be two positions of
the lens for which this is possible:
The analysis of the double slits experiment gives us for the positions of constructive
interference ym =
mD
d
where m = 1, 2, ... Although in the Youngs slits experiment
it is possible to directly measure the distance between the slits d, with this apparatus it
is not possible to directly compute the distance between the two virtual sources. Instead
it is necessary to use the lens formula
1
u
+
1
v
=
1
f
and substitute u + v = D, giving us a
quadratic for which we have solutions:
u
1,2
=
D
2

D
2

4D
f
2
v
1,2
=
D
2

D
2

4D
f
2
Thus there are two positions of the lens which give images. Introducing the magnication
formula for a simple lens M =
v
u
a simple relation for the separation of the virtual slits
can be given d
1
d
2
= d
2
(M
1
M
2
). Since the image and object distances swap for the
dierent lens positions, we can say there is a symmetry between the two situations and
that M
1
M
2
= 1, giving d =

d
1
d
2
Also worth noting is that for a real image position, it
must be true that D
2

4D
f
> 0. Therefore D >
4
f
for a real image.
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Procedure
The experiment consists in measuring s, d
1
and d
2
. A micrometer eyepiece is used in
place of the screen to determine the three quantities involved.
1. Plug in the sodium lamp and allow it to warm up until the characteristic sodium
light appears.
2. Ensure that the light source, the slit, the biprism and the eyepiece are in line and
at the same height.
3. It is important also that the slit and the edge of the biprism be accurately parallel,
because the interference pattern sought requires coherent sources from identical
virtual slits. If the biprism is at an angle to the light slit, it disrupts the symmetry
of the situation and the light source will be slightly incoherent, causing a larger
error in measurements.
4. Place the biprism 15 to 20cm from the slit, (keep the latter fairly narrow) and with
your eye only, view the slit through the biprism. You should be able to see closely
spaced fringes: if not rotate the biprism until you do.
5. Now bring the eyepiece close tot he biprism and locate the fringes. Again adjust
the rotary control on the biprism, and reduce the width of the slit, for best visibility
of the fringes.
6. The eyepiece can now be moved out to a distance of 80 to 90cm from the slit for
measurement of s, d
1
and d
2
. Before starting to measure s, insert the lens and check
you can get two positions where sharp images of the slits appear at the eyepiece
(use a piece of white paper as a screen and open up the slit a bit if necessary). If
not D needs to be increased move out the eyepiece.
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7. Now remove the lens, close up the slit and determine s by measuring across 20 to
30 fringes. Repeat once or twice more, and take a mean. Now replace the lens and
using the eyepiece accurately determing d
1
and d
2
. Calculate the wavelength and
the uncertainty in your measurement.
Results
The results obtained for the experiment were as follows:
d
1
16 1mm
d
2
1.09 0.01mm
D 1.11 0.01m
A number of values for s were taken to minimise the possibility of error.
l(Distance measured in mm) n(number of fringes) s(distance between the fringes in mm)
3.89 20 0.19
0.77 10 0.077
3.63 20 0.182
2.71 20 0.135
3.44 20 0.172
3.61 20 0.181
The errors in these measured values were 0.01mm for l, and since s =
l
n
, the error for s is
0.0005mm or 0.001, depending on n, assuming no error in counting the number of slits.
As there is a large range in values obtained for s and no objective way to determine
which is most accurate, the best procedure is to get a mean of all measured values. This
yields a value of 0.156mm, with a standard error obtained by the formula
s =
1

(x
1
x)
2
+ ... + (x
n
x)
2
n
which yields 0.02mm, hance a working value of s = 0.15 0.02mm. Using the formula
=
sd
D
the value of the wavelength was determined to be 587.5nm with an error of
=

(
s
s
)
2
+ (
d
d
)
2
+ (
D
D
)
2
which yields 80.6nm.
Conclusions
The value obtained for the wavelength of sodium light 580 80nm is in keeping with
the accepted value of 589.3nm. Unfortunately, our error is quite large. This is partly
due to calculational rounding o and approximation formulae, but it is mostly due to
the large discrepancies measured when taking a value for s. The most dicult part of
the experiment was in ensuring that each piece of equipment was in line and perfectly
parallel. This proved almost impossible to achieve, and this has been reected in the size
of the error. Otherwise, however, the experiment was a success.
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