Experiment 11: CD Diffraction

Objective:
Determine the distance between the grooves on a CD.

Equipment:
-Laser
-CD
-Paper with central hole
-Meter stick
-Clamps
-Stands
-Diffraction grater

Procedure:

We shone the laser through a diffraction grater to determine the wavelength.

We then shone a laser through a small central opening on a piece of paper and recorded the value of the distances from the central maxima.
Data/Calculations:
Wavelength Calculations:

d Calculations:

Conclusion:
The average value, compared to the standard manufacturer's value of 1600 nm, was smaller by about five hundred nanometers, this means that the manufacturers should look into increasing the distance for the faulty CD's.