Report on Fresnel Biprism

Submitted by:
DEEPAK
Roll no: ME/15/703

SHRI BALWANT INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Approved By AICTE , Min. Of HRD , Govt. Of India and DTE, Govt. Of Haryana
Affiliated to DCR University of Science & technology, Murthal, Sonepat

Abstract:In this report I am covering the topic Fresnel biprism I will covered the about the Fresnel biprism,
construction of Fresnel biprism, experimental arrangement, determination of wavelength of light
using Fresnel biprism, applications of Fresnel biprism, calculation of wavelength of monochromatic
light.

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the topic presentation entitled as Fresnel biprism and submitted by
Deepak having Roll No ME/15/703, embodies the bonafide work done by him under my
supervision.

Signature of the Supervision

Place: SBIT ,SONEPAT
Date :

CONTENTS:

Introduction............................................................................................................5
Construction of fresnel biprism..............................................................................6
Production of two virtual coherent sources and equation......................................7
Theory....................................................................................................................8
Sketch of apparatus................................................................................................9
Method...................................................................................................................9
Finding..................................................................................................................10
Analysis of accuracy and uncertainty...................................................................10
Conclusion............................................................................................................13
References............................................................................................................14

TABLE OF FIGURES:

Fig.1........................................................................................................................6
Fig.2........................................................................................................................7
Fig.3........................................................................................................................9

Introduction:
Fresnel used a biprism to obtain interference pattern in the lab from a single source. Biprism
converts a single source into two virtual images. These images act as a source of light. The
light coming from these two virtual sources interferes and produces a interfence pattern on
the screen. The Biprism consist of two acute angled prism with there bases in contact. One
angle of the biprism is 1790 and other two angle measures 30. In fresenel biprism
interference patteren is obtained by division of wave front method.

Description:
Fresnel biprism:Fresnel used a biprism to obtain two sources for producing interference pattern in the
laboratory.

Construction of Fresnel biprism:Fresnel biprism consists of two acute angled with their base in contact in actual practice, the
Fresnel biprism is can be constructed as a single prism of obtuse angle of about 1790 and the
remaining two acute angles are 30 minutes each (alpha=30)

Fig. 1

Production of two virtual coherent sources and equations:

The interference of waves takes place when two or more coherent waves of equal amplitudes
come together in space. Their amplitudes add algebraically and so one obtains either
constructive or destructive interference. Further, one can create an interference effect by
using two coherent sources. A pattern is created on a screen and this consists of dark spots
and bright spots called intensity minima and maxima respectively. The minima and
maxima correspond to destructive and constructive interference. Such a pattern can be made
by performing the Youngs Slits experiment (see below).
The Fresnel Biprism is a variation on that theme which is Youngs Slits.

S1
d

S
S2

Fig. 2
Left: Schematic top-view of the Fresnel biprism experiment. S is the slit-source and S1 and S2
the positions of the virtual slits (separation d is somewhat increased for the sake of clarity, a
typical value of about 1mm being more realistic). The shadowed region is the beam
superposition area, where the interferential fringes can be observed. The screen, , where the
fringes are visualized, cut that area. Centre: Detail of the interfering condition on the screen.
Wave fronts coming from either S1 or S2 are separated in /2 intervals. Black points indicate
constructive addition, and hollow ones destructive. The first correspond to maxima in the
interferential pattern, and the second to minima, producing the overall fringes (Right)

Theory:
The source in Youngs slits is a point source, and the secondary slits are also supposed to act
as point sources. This is never the case, since clearly a point source is an idealization. The
finite size of the secondary slits gives rise to unwanted diffraction effects.
The Fresnel Biprism overcomes the difficulty associated with the extended secondary slits by
replacing them with virtual slits, which are obtained from the configuration below.
This configuration is in fact analogous to the Youngs Slits apparatus, and so we apply the
formulas of the latter apparatus to the former.
For constructive interference, we must have that the path difference equals an integral
number of wavelengths, which gives m d sin . In this apparatus, D d , so we can say
y
m y m
that sin tan m , and so
. This implies that the separation s between

D
a
D
two adjacent intensity maxima (where s y m1 y m ) is given by the following equation:

(1)

Now s and D, are measurable quantities, although with the Fresnel Biprism, d is not directly
measurable. It can, however, be found by adding a lens to the apparatus as in the following
diagram.
There will be two positions of the lens for which the virtual slits are visible. The separation
of the slits (as seen through the eyepiece) in these cases is d1 and d2. From the lens formula,
we can show that the actual separation between the two virtual slits is given by the following
formula:

d d1 d 2

(2)

Sketch of Apparatus:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Optical bench with linear scale.

Slit with variable width.
Sodium (Na) gas spectral lamp.
Fresnel biprism with adjustable holder.
An eyepiece with a reference line on the focusing plane. It is mounted in a holder with a
lateral movement of good precision.
f. A converging lens (to help measure the distance d = S1S2)
g. Microscope with a reference crosses to measure the distance D.

Fig. 3

Methods:
a. The apparatus was set up as in the sketch. The apparatus was calibrated so that the light
source, the slit, the biprism and the eyepiece were aligned. The slit and the edge of the
biprism were aligned. This was to ensure that the behaviour of the rays was as in figure X.
b. The eyepiece was brought close to the biprism and the fringes were located. The width of
the slit was adjusted to improve the visibility of the fringes.
c. The eyepiece was then moved away from the slit in order to measure s, d1 and d2.
Hereafter, the position of the eyepiece relative to the source was kept fixed and this
provided us with a measure of D.
d. The lens was inserted and two positions of the lens were found for which the virtual slits
were visible. Thus, d1 and d2 were found.
e. The lens was then removed and s was determined by measuring across 30 fringes.

Findings:
D 0.904 0.001m
d1 2.33 0.01mm
d 2 8.55 0.01mm
d d1 d 2 4.46 0.01

1 d
d
Where d 2 d1 1 d 2
2 d1
d2

S = 30s / mm

s / mm

/ mm

3.95

0.132

0.8

0.03

4.00

0.133

0.8

0.03

2.60

0.087

0.8

0.03

2.96

0.100

0.8

0.03

4.90

0.163

0.8

0.03

4.44

0.148

0.8

0.03

s 0.127mm

s
6

0.010

Thus, s s 1.3 104 0.1 10 4 m

sd 1.3 104 0.1 104 m 4.46 103 0.01 103 m

6.4 107 0.5 107 m

D
0.904 0.001m

where,

d
s
sd
s d 2 D .
D
D
D

Analysis of Accuracy and Uncertainty:

The principal source of error in this experiment arises when one determines the separation s
of the intensity maxima. Here, human error due to counting 30 separations of intensity
maxima is more important than the measurement area due to the instruments. The latter
source of error is therefore neglected. It is estimated therefore that in counting 30
separations, we incur an error of 5 separations. I.e. in counting 30 separations, we estimate
that the actual number of separations is between 27 and 33. This additional uncertainty
negates somewhat the improvement that this experiment makes in comparison with Youngs
Slits. This factor could be used by using a photomultiplier to count the intensity maxima and
their separation.
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Conclusion:
It was found that the wavelength of sodium light was 6.4 107 0.5 107 m . This compares
with the actual value of 5.9 10 7 m , which is within the range determined by experimental
error. This value could be improved by finding a different way of determining the separation
s of adjacent intensity maxima.

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Reference:

Books: Garg and Singh.

www.schoolphysics.com
www.holmarc.com/differ_biprism.php
www.nptel.ac.in

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