VIT, Vellore Campus PHY1701 Engineering Physics Lab Manual and Record

Electron Diffraction

Apparatus required
1. Electron diffraction tube with stand
2. High voltage power supply (up to 10 kV)
3. Connecting wires
4. Plastic measuring scale

Objective
To calculate the interplanar spacing in graphite from the diffraction pattern.

Basic Information
In this experiment electrons get transmitted through a very thin polycrystalline graphite sheet. The
schematic sketch is shown in Fig. 1. Graphite has two independent lattice spacings (d1 and d2) and these
are shown in Fig. 2. The two diffraction rings that will be seen at each voltage are due to these two
planes.

Applying the diffraction formula for first order, we have,

𝜆 = 𝑑 sin 𝜃 (1)

where  is the de Broglie wavelength of the electron, d is the interplanar spacing and  is the angle of
diffraction. Electrons are accelerated through a potential difference of ‘V’ Volts and hence their de
Broglie wavelength is,

12.3
𝜆= Å (2)
√𝑉

From the geometry of Fig. 1 we have,

𝑅
sin 𝜃 = √𝑅2 (3)
+𝐿2

Upon simplifying and using the fixed value of L = 13.5 cm and R expressed in cm,

1
sin 𝜃 = 0.5 (4)
13.5 2
(1+( ) )
𝑅

Interplanar spacing can be calculated from equation (1) by substituting equations (2) and (4) into it.
VIT, Vellore Campus PHY1701 Engineering Physics Lab Manual and Record

Fig. 1: Schematic sketch of the experimental setup.

2R1

2R2

Fig. 2: (Left) Two independent types of lattice planes in polycrystalline graphite and (Right) the
diffraction rings produced by these lattice planes. 2R1 and 2R2 are the diameters of the rings.

Safety guidelines and precautions

1. Never accelerate beyond 5 kV.
2. Never touch any controls on the power supply other than the ‘On-Off’ switch and the voltage
varying knob.
3. Never use force to measure the ring diameters. Keep a plastic scale very gently over the tube to
measure the diameters. Metal scales are not allowed.
VIT, Vellore Campus PHY1701 Engineering Physics Lab Manual and Record

4. You are working with a vey high energy source (> 5 kV) and hence touching any part of the entire
setup other than what is mentioned in point 3 (just for the purpose of measurement) is
prohibited. This is for your own safety and the safety of the lab.

Procedure
1. Set the accelerating voltage at 4 kV.
2. For the inner ring, measure the diameter (2R1).
3. Fill up the radius (R1) in the tabular column.
4. For the outer ring, measure the diameter (2R2).
5. Fill up the radius (R2) in the tabular column.
6. Calculate , sin  and d from equations (2), (4) and (1) respectively and fill up the corresponding cells
in the tabular column.
7. Repeat steps 2 to 6 for accelerating voltages 4.5 and 5 kV.
8. Calculate the average d for both inner and outer rings.

Tabular column
2R1 (or) 2R2 R1 (or) R2
Ring V (kV) (cm) (cm)  (Å) sin  d (Å)

4.0

Inner 4.5

5.0

4.0

Outer 4.5

5.0

Average d for inner ring = …….. Å Average d for outer ring = …….. Å

Result
The interplanar spacings in graphite were measured as d1 = nm and d2 = nm.
Title: Engineering Physics Practicals
Course Code: BPHY101P

Semester: Fall 2021-2022

Krishnamoorthi Chintagumpala, PhD
@ Kris
email id: [email protected]
1
Marks distribution for each experiment (10 marks)

Attendance & Prior preparation for the lab experiment (write

up): 2 mark

Observations, Plot, Calculations, Result(s) with units,

Inference/Conclusion, Answers to the given questions: 8 mark

2
 In the observation notebook the following items
should be written
i) Title of the experiment.

ii) Aim of the experiment.

iii) Apparatus required to perform the aimed experiment.

iii) Formula used to estimate/determine the aimed quantity,

with units and description of each character in the formula.

iv) The procedure (max. 3 points) you have followed while

noting the observations (data) in the table. Write these points
in your own words.

v) Precaution (only one) you have exercised while making the

observations, if taken. For online classes, you may leave it.

3
 In the observation notebook the following items
should be written
vi) Observations(data) in proper tabular form. Write units at
each tabular column head (if not, -0.5 mark). Least count value
at top of the table(if not, -0.5 mark).

vii) Draw a graph with pencil. Spread the data on one full
graph sheet. Mark all your data points on graph. For details,
see “instructions for plotting graph” given in the course page.

viii) Show only one calculation using the formula to arrive the
reported result.
ix) Result with appropriate units.

x) Inference/conclusion (the physics you understood by

doing the whole experiment).

xi) Answers to the given questions.

4
 Electron Diffraction
(Davisson-Germer experiment)
Aim: Determine: (i) de Broglie wavelength (λdB) of
electrons accelerated under different anode potential, and
(ii) Interplanar spacing (d-spacing) of crystal diffractor by
electron diffraction.

VIT lab demo Link

https://vitacin.sharepoint.com/:v:/s/MoodleTrainingforCATExaminationsPhysics/EVL76zGmGeNC

5
Schematic experimental setup

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https://www.leybold-shop.com/physics/physics-experiments/atomic-and-nuclear-physics/
introductory-experiments/dual-nature-of-wave-and-particle/diffraction-of-electrons-at-a
7
-polycrystalline-lattice-debye-scherrer-diffraction/vp6-1-5-1.html
8
9
 Accelarating Center Radius of de Broglie Sinθ Interplanar Mean d-
anode diameter of the Ring: wavelength spacing d1 spacing (Å)
potential (V) Ring: 2R R1 or R2 λ (Å) or d2 (Å)
(cm) (cm)
4000 2.6 d1 = Mean d1 =
Conce
ntric 4500 2.5 d1 =
Ring 1
5000 2.3 d1 =

4000 4.7 d2 = ●
Mean d2 =
Conce
ntric 4500 4.4 d2 =
Ring 2
5000 4.1 d2 =

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11
X-rays diffraction by crystal planes

d sinφ = nλ
d- atomic separation.

Electrons diffraction by crystal planes

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13
In our experiment a polycrystalline graphite material is used as
diffraction object. This corresponds to a large number of small
single crystallites which are irregularly arranged in space. 14
Calculations:
Show one calculation for each result.

Results:
(i) de Broglie wavelength of electrons accelerated at 4000 V =
(ii) Interplanar spacing of graphite (d1) =
(iii) Interplanar spacing of graphite (d2) =

Inferences/Conclusions:

15
Answer the following Questions and include them in the
observation record

1. How wave nature of electron is confirmed from the above observation

data?

2. Can you predict wave nature of electrons which are drifting, in a

conductor wires at homes, under domestic potential and frequencies?
Briefly justify your answer.

3. Why diffraction equations are differ for transmission diffraction and

Reflection diffraction conditions?

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THE END

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 BPHY101P lab experiment demo video links

Use your Teams login credential to login to sharepoint.

3. Electron Diffraction
https://vitacin.sharepoint.com/:v:/s/
MoodleTrainingforCATExaminationsPhysics/
EVL76zGmGeNCoBZokBhx4rIBsE6XJbK_5ZBK7BDDuzO33w?e=gIKxPb
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