Laser Diffraction of a Helix

7A60.930 | Ga3
Catalog: 
7A60.930
Location: 
Ga3
Room: 
PS F175
Quantity: 
1
Setup Time: 
15 min
Instructors: 
Treacy
  • demonstration image
    Many bulbs were broken to find one with a coiled filament. This was then stretched out.
  • demonstration image
    Hard to see but the filament is a helix.
  • demonstration image
    A laser shines on the helix filament and scatters onto the screen. A marker pen was used to block the center beam to make the diffraction pattern clearer.
  • demonstration image
    The diffraction pattern of helix filament.
  • demonstration image
    The filament with the laser light on it.
Safety: 
Be wary of laser reflections that may hit students. Use shielding as needed.
Date Added: 
Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 12:00am
Description: 

The X-ray diffraction pattern of DNA is simulated by the difraction pattern of a laser's light on a coiled filament of a incandescent bulb.

Purpose: 
To simulate x-ray diffraction of a helix using laser diffraction.
Link: 
http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/BioEllipse/courses/biol63/dna-prot/xray.html