Fundamentals of Light and Lasers: Working with Diffraction Patterns, Wavelengths, and Polarization

This lab activity, presented by John Chamberlain, demonstrates the measurement of diffraction and wavelengths from a laser. The first part of this 18-minute video shows the measurement of the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern from a pinhole, including the calculation of the needed distance between the pinhole and the screen. The second part of the video covers the measurement of the wavelength of light using a ruler, and the calculations to find the wavelength from those measurements. This lab, 1-5A, is one in a series of 20 available on the Fundamentals of Light and Lasers. 

These videos were created as a supplement to the Fundamentals of Light and Lasers curriculum available through OP-TEC, but can be used independently to guide lab activities related to this topic.