O USO DE UM SENSOR DE LUZ LINEAR COMO RECURSO DIDÁTICO PARA DEMONSTRAR PRINCÍPIOS DE DIFRAÇÃO E ESPECTROSCOPIA

• Main Authors: Fernando Arruda Mendes de Oliveira, Eduardo Ribeiro de Azevedo, Luiz Antonio de Oliveira Nunes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Química 2015-03-01
• Series: Química Nova
• Subjects: diffraction; spectroscopy; linear light sensor
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-40422015000300451&lng=en&tlng=en

This article presents a discussion on light diffraction by slits and grids as well as the development of an experimental apparatus which provides quantitative observation of the phenomenon. We conducted a brief historical survey on the evolution of the wave theory of light and the role of diffraction in the context of optical spectroscopy. We also reviewed the use of Huygens’ principle to calculate the intensity pattern obtained when light is diffracted by slits and compared the predictions with experimental results obtained using the apparatus developed. Finally, the use of the apparatus in an optical spectroscopy experiment was demonstrated.