Limitations of Young's double slit experiment

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the limitations of a Young's double slit experiment conducted with a laser pointer and acetate slits. Key improvements suggested include varying the slit distance, slit size, and light wavelength to enhance measurement accuracy. The importance of changing one independent variable at a time to observe significant phenomena is emphasized. This approach is crucial for deriving meaningful scientific conclusions from experimental data.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Young's double slit experiment
  • Familiarity with independent and dependent variables in experiments
  • Basic knowledge of light properties, including wavelength and intensity
  • Experience with experimental design and measurement techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore variations in slit distance and their impact on interference patterns
  • Investigate the effects of different light wavelengths on diffraction results
  • Learn about measuring light intensity and its influence on experimental outcomes
  • Study advanced experimental design principles for physics experiments
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Students and educators in physics, experimental scientists, and anyone interested in enhancing their understanding of wave interference and experimental methodology.

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Homework Statement


From a procedure standpoint, our experiment consisted of a laser pointer on a retort stand with a holder, shining through a piece of sheet with slit measurements (I believe it's acetate) and measuring the height of the maxima on a whiteboard. What could be improved with this experiment?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


What could be improved with this experiment?
 
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What things are changeable so that you can get a variety of measurements?
 
I understand that there are other IV's that could have been tested, such as light intensity, wavelength etc... but what is wrong with specifically the experiment I did? The independent variable was the slit distance between the two slits
 
As a scientist you need to vary parameters one at a time to truly test a phenomena. In your case, distances to the slit or slit size or wavelength are parameters that you can vary.

New science is often discovered by doing these small variations and then observing something interesting in the results.
 

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