Mechanical Vibration Acoustics Mechanics

Ultrasonic Michelson-Interferometer 1.5.22-00

What you can learn about

 Longitudinal waves
 Reflection of longitudinal
waves
 Superposition of waves
 Interference
 Interferometer

Principle:
A semi-permeable membrane di-
vides an ultrasonic wave into two
partial packets which travel at right
angles to each other. They are subse-
quently reflected at different hard
metal reflectors, one of which is fixed
in position, and the other of which
can be displaced in the direction of
the beam, before being reunited.
Shifting the displaceable reflector
changes the path length of the corre-
sponding packet, so that superposi-
tioning of the reunited partial pack-
ets gives maxima and minima of the
alternating sound pressure according
to the differenc in the distance trav-
elled. The wavelength of the ultra-
sound can be determined from these.

What you need:

Ultrasonic unit 13900.00 1
Power supply f. ultrasonic unit, 5 VDC, 12 W 13900.99 1
Ultrasonic transmitter on stem 13901.00 1
Ultrasonic receiver on stem 13902.00 1
Analog multimeter 07028.01 1
Optical profile-bench, l = 60 cm 08283.00 1
Base f. opt. profile-bench, adjust. 08284.00 2
Slide mount f. opt. profile-bench, h = 80 mm 08286.02 2
Slide mount f. opt. profile-bench, h = 30 mm 08286.01 1
Sliding device, horizontal 08713.00 1
Screen metal, 3030 cm 08062.00 2
Screen translucent, 2525 cm 08064.00 1
Barrel base -PASS- 02006.55 2
Stand tube 02060.00 2
Measuring tape 09936.00 1
Connecting cord, l =50 cm, red 07361.01 1
Connecting cord, l =50 cm, blue 07361.04 1

Complete Equipment Set, Manual on CD-ROM included

Ultrasonic Michelson-Interferometer P2152200

Intensity of the alternating sound pressure as a function of the displacement

d of reflector screen Sc2.

Tasks:
1. Determine the intensity of the
alternating sound pressure in de-
pendence on the displacement of
one of the reflectors.
2. Calculate the wavelength of the
ultrasound from the measurement
curve.

PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG D - 37070 Gttingen Laboratory Experiments Physics 79
 LEP
Ultrasonic Michelson-Interferometer 1.5.22
-00

Related topics Slide mount f. opt. profile-bench, h = 30 mm 08286.01 1

Longitudinal waves, reflection of longitudinal waves, superpo- Sliding device, horizontal 08713.00 1
sition of waves, interference, interferometer Screen metal, 30x30 cm 08062.00 2
Screen translucent, 25x25 cm 08064.00 1
Principle Barrel base PASS 02006.55 2
A semi-permeable membrane divides an ultrasonic wave Stand tube 02060.00 2
into two partial packets which travel at right angles to each Measuring tape 09936.00 1
other. They are subsequently reflected at different hard metal Connecting cord, l = 50 cm, red 07361.01 1
reflectors, one of which is fixed in position, and the other of Connecting cord, l = 50 cm, blue 07361.04 1
which can be displaced in the direction of the beam, before
being reunited. Shifting the displaceable reflector changes the Tasks
path length of the corresponding packet, so that superposi- 1. Determine the intensity of the alternating sound pressure
tioning of the reunited partial packets gives maxima and min- in dependence on the displacement of one of the reflec-
ima of the alternating sound pressure according to the differ- tors.
enc in the distance travelled. The wavelength of the ultra- 2. Calculate the wavelength of the ultrasound from the mea-
sound can be determined from these. surement curve.

Equipment Set-up and procedure

Ultrasonic unit 13900.00 1 Set up the experiment as shown in Fig. 1.
Power supply f. ultrasonic unit, 5 VDC, 12 W 13900.99 1 The diagram in Fig. 2 provides additional information on the
Ultrasonic transmitter on stem 13901.00 1 geometrical distances of the components.
Ultrasonic receiver on stem 13902.00 1
Analog multimeter 07028.01 1 Position the slide with transmitter T and the sliding device
Optical profile-bench, l = 60 cm 08283.00 1 with reflector screen Sc2 at opposite ends of the optical
Base f. opt. profile-bench, adjust. 08284.00 2 bench. The transmitter propagates along the optical bench
Slide mount f. opt. profile-bench, h = 80 mm 08286.02 2 and reflector screen Sc2 is held at right angles to the beam.

Fig.1: Experimental set-up

PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen 21522-00 1
 LEP
1.5.22 Ultrasonic Michelson-Interferometer
-00

Fig. 2: Diagram of the experimental set-up Theory and evaluation

The ultrasonic wave emitted by the transmitter (Fig. 2) is divid-
ed into two partial packets by membrane Sc3, which is posi-
tioned at 45 to the direction of propagation, as part is reflect-
ed at Sc3 and the rest passes through it. Each of the partial
packets is completely reflected by metal screens Sc1 and Sc2.
The packet coming from Sc1 again passes partially through the
membrane and travels to receiver R, while the packet coming
from Sc1 is partially reflected at the membrane before travel-
ling to the receiver. When the paths of the packets to receiver
R are of the same length, they are in phase and the receiver
registers an intensity maximum of the alternating sound pres-
sure. When reflector screen Sc2 is shifted in the direction of the
optical bench, then there is a difference in the path length of
the partial packets and so in their phases at the receiver,
which results in alternate mutual strengthening or weakening.
The receiver registers a succession of minima and maxima for
the intensity of the alternating sound pressure.
When the path change of the reflector screen between two
minima or two maxima is d, then the ultrasound wavelength
is given by:

l = 2 d (1)
Translucent screen Sc3 is also held in its holder on the optical
bench, at a distance of 20 cm from transmitter T, and must be Fig. 3 shows an example of a measurement, in which reflector
at an angle of 45 to the optical bench. The following proce- screen Sc2 was displaced over a total distance d = 46.9 m for
dure is helpful in adjusting it to this angle: Slide reflector 11 minima.
screens Sc1 and Sc2 in their holders tight against the translu-
cent screen, whereby the reflectors must be at right angles to The ultrasound wavelength calculated from this is: l =
each other. The lateral edges touch each other. Now turn the 0.853 cm.
translucent screen so that it points towards the contacting The transmitter operates at a frequency of f = 40 kHz. With c =
edges. The 90 angle is now sufficiently accurately adjusted. f l (c = 343.4 ms-1 at T = 20C) it follows, in good agreement
Ensure thar receiver R and the fixed-position reflector screen with the value obtained in the experiment, that: l = 0.858 cm.
Sc1, which must be aligned parallel to the optical bench, are in
line with the centre point of Sc3, and at right angles to the opti-
cal bench. The appropriate distances between the compo-
nents are shown in Fig. 2. Transmitter T and receiver R are at
the same height, approx. 32 cm above the work surface. Fig. 3: Intensity of the alternating sound pressure as a function
The given geometrical distances ensure avoidance of direct of the displacement d of reflector screen Sc2
irradiation of the receiver by the transmitter.
Connect the transmitter to the TR1 diode socket of the ultra-
sonic unit and operate it in continuous mode Con. Connect
the receiver to the left BNC socket (in front of the amplifier).
Connect the signal received to the analog output of the ana-
log multimeter subsequent to amplification and rectification.
To ensure proportionality between the input signal and the
analog output signal, avoid operating the amplifier in the sat-
uration range. Should such a case occur and the OVL diode
light up, reduce either the transmitter amplitude or the input
amplification.
To record a measurement series, use the sliding device to
slide reflector screen Sc2 along the optical bench in steps of
0.3 mm and measure the corresponding receiver voltages U.

Note:
As a rule, it is impossible to completely avoid interference to
the measurement field by reflected sound. To keep such inter-
ference as small as possible, do not carry out the experiment
in narrow rooms. Do not set the experiment up in the immedi-
ate vicinity of reflecting surfaces (walls, cupboards etc.). It is
further recommended that the ultrasonic unit and the multi-
meter be positioned at some distance from the measurement
area behind reflector screen Sc2. In addition, the person carry-
ing out the experiment should not stand too close to the mea-
surement area.

2 21522-00 PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen