Limitations of Young's double slit experiment

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the limitations of Young's double slit experiment, focusing on the experimental setup involving a laser pointer and slit measurements. Participants are exploring ways to improve the experiment and the implications of varying different parameters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning what aspects of the experiment could be improved and what variables can be manipulated to obtain varied measurements. There is a focus on the independent variable of slit distance and considerations of other factors like light intensity and wavelength.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing suggestions for varying parameters and emphasizing the importance of testing one variable at a time. There is an exploration of different approaches without a clear consensus on the best method to enhance the experiment.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the constraints of the original experimental design and the implications of varying specific parameters, such as slit size and distance, in the context of the experiment's goals.

iambadatscience
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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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