EP09 Measuring The Curvature Radius of Lens Using Newton

Ep09 Newton’s rings
OBJECTIVE
1. To understand the interference of light.

2. To learn how to measure the curvature radius of a convex lens using Newton’rings.
THEORY
Interference is a phenomenon common to all wave motion, whether mechanical, electrical,

optical, acoustical or electromagnetic. A useful principle in analyzing wave motion is the
principle of superposition: Two or more waves can be in the same space independently of one
another, and their combined effect at any point is the sum of the individual effects. The
‘combined effect’ is actually the interference of the waves; it is constructive when the waves
differ by a multiple of 2Pi, and it is destructive when the waves differ by an odd multiple of
Pi.
If the convex surface of a lens is placed in contact with a plane glass plate, as in Fig 1, a
thin film of air is formed between the two surfaces (the glass-air and the air-glass interfaces).
The thickness of this film is very small at the point of contact, gradually increasing as one
proceeds outward. The loci of points of equal thickness are circles concentric with the point of
contact.
We consider monochromatic light incident along the normal on the plane surface of the
lens. We view the reflected light from the glass-air and the air-glass interfaces, and observed a
dark spot at the point of contact. At the point of contact, the rays reflected from the glass-air
and the air-glass interfaces have zero path difference. The interference nonetheless is seen to
be destructive. Since the path difference is zero, the two waves are out of phase because one
reflected wave experienced no phase change upon reflection (the wave from the glass-to air
reflection) while the other reflected wave had a phase change of π rad (the one from the
air-to-glass reflection).
Note that the pattern of the constructive and destructive interference in the reflected light
consists of a series of concentric circles, called Newton’s rings, as shown in Fig 2 which
trace out contours of constant thickness of the air gap between the surfaces.
If we view the transmitted light, the central spot is bright. There is no path difference
between the transmitted waves, and no phase difference from reflection since the transmitted
light is not reflected. The transmitted light also consists of a series of concentric bright and
dark rings.
Fig1 Newton’s rings device sketch map Fig2 Newton’s rings in reflected light produce
a dark spot at the point of contact.
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In this lab, we will calculate curvature radius of lens using Newton’rings seen through
microscope. Assume that the diameter of the mth Newton’s ring and the nth Newton’s ring are
respective dm and dn, then we can calculate the curvature radius of lens using the following
equation:
d 2 − d n2
R= m (1)
4(m − n)λ
The accurate value of n and m is not very important, but the difference between m and n
must be known, and the difference value can’t be too small, otherwise, the significant figures
of dm-dn can’t meet the requirement, which will increase the measurement error.
PROCEDURE
A. Adjust the device
(1) Adjust the ocular of the microscope until the cross hair “+” is clearest.
(2) Turn on the natrium light and make rays straight incident on the glass P, as shown in Fig 3.
Put the Newton’s rings device under the objective of the microscope; adjust the angle of
glass P until the reflected yellow light can be seen.
(3) Rotate the hand wheel of the microscope to ascend or descent the objective drawtube until
the Newton’s rings can be seen clearly.
(4) Adjust the “+” in ocular until the “|” line is vertical to the transverse ruler.
B. Measuring the curvature radius of lens R
(1) Measuring the diameter of the Newton’s rings
Measure the diameters of the Newton’s rings from the 20th dark ring to the 6th dark ring
(suppose that the first dark ring around the center is the 1st). Firstly, rotate the reading hand
wheel until the cross hair is on the center of the Newton’s rings. Count the ring series when
you rotate the hand wheel continuously until the cross hair is on the middle of the 22th dark
ring in left of the center, then rotate the hand wheel in the opposite direction and record the
readings from the 20th in left to the 20th in right.
CAUTION
In order to eliminate the error from pitch difference, you must not rotate the hand wheel in the
opposite direction when you record the readings.
DATA RECORDING AND PROCESSING
Ring
Position of the dark
rings(mm)
Diameter of Ring
Position of the dark
rings(mm)
Diameter of d m2 − d n2
series(m) the dark rings(dm) series(n) the dark rings(dn)
x1(left) x2(right) x1(left) x2(right)
20 10
19 9
18 8
17 7
16 6
(2) Calculate the average of the diameter squared difference Δd 2 using the successive
difference method ,and the curvature radius of lens R can be obtained from equation (1).
QUESTIONS
1 Why must the “|” line of the “+” in ocular be vertical to the transverse ruler? How to meet
the requirement?
2 How to eliminate the error from pitch difference when you measure the diameter of the
Newton’s rings?
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Ep09 Newton’s rings

1. To understand the interference of light.

Interference is a phenomenon common to all wave motion, whether mechanical, electrical,

DATA RECORDING AND PROCESSING

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