Bragg Scattering

By: Yusuf Waxali

Lab Station #2
Lab Partner: John Richter
February 19, 2014

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

Bragg Scattering
Objective
In this lab, students will practice the technique of studying the crystalline structure of a
material using radiation with familiar wavelength. Students will conduct an experiment
that is scaled up, using microwave radiation in the place of X-rays and a foam model of
a crystal.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

Introduction
When discussing the activity of a wave, specifically interference, it is important to
mention Braggs law, which is expressed as:

=n=2dsin

This states that fringes of intensity due to constructive interference will be centered
upon angles which satisfy the above equation, where d is the distance between
consecutive scattering planes, is the wavelength, and n is an integer starting from 1.
While the Bragg scientists were studying X rays at the time, the equation applies for
any radiation or particle.

This is important to the study of modern physics for the following reason: By
analyzing the plot of incidence angle versus signal intensity, one can study the crystal
structure of the target material. Along this curve occur a series of peaks in the graph,
the locations of which can determine the distance d between consecutive scattering
planes. After changing the orientation of the target material, one can determine the
entire lattice structure of the material using Braggs law.

By conducting The Bragg Scattering Experiment, students can verify Braggs law
experimentally using a scaled-up model of a typical X-ray and crystal scattering. Using
microwaves of known wavelength and a foam model with metal balls of uniform
distribution, students can measure the intensity of the signal at various angles of
Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

incidence and record the data. Then, after plotting the data, the location of the peaks
on the curve will reveal the angles at which the maximum intensities occur. These
experimental values will be compared to the accepted values which are calculated using
Braggs law.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

Results
Data
After orienting the foam cube normal to the 90 line on the protractor, the signal
strengths were recorded for values ranging from 10 to 60 at increments of 5. Also,
after assessing the location of the peak, additional readings were taken for values
ranging from 21 to 28 at increments of 1. All of the signal strengths for this
configuration are recorded in Table 1. The readings were then plotted on a graph
versus in Figure 1.

Table 1: Signal strength for first configuration at various values. Shows the
original 5 increment as well as the detailed 1 increment near the peak

Figure 1: Plot of intensity data for normal incidence configuration. A clear peak
at 24 and another less clear peak at 50

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

Next, students repeated the procedure using the new orientation: a 45 angle
from the 90 line on the protractor. The signal strengths were recorded for values
ranging from 20 to 50 at increments of 5. Also, after assessing the location of the
peak, additional readings were taken for values ranging from 26 to 29 at increments
of 1. All of the signal strengths for this 45 configuration are recorded in Table 2. The
readings were then plotted on a graph versus in Figure 2.

Table 2: Signal strength for 45 configuration at various values. Shows the original 5
increment as well as the detailed 1 increment near the peak

Figure 2: Plot of intensity data for 45 incidence configuration. A peak is located at

27.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

The third and final configuration was with the foam cube placed at a 26.57 angle
from the 0 line. The signal strengths were recorded for values ranging from 40 to
70 at increments of 5. Also, after assessing the location of the peak, additional
readings were taken for values ranging from 46 to 55 at increments of 1. The
relevant signal strengths for this 26.57 configuration are recorded in Table 3. The
readings were then plotted on a graph versus in Figure 3.

Table 3: Signal strength for 26.57 configuration at various values. Shows the original
5 increment as well as the detailed 1 increment near the peak. 3 outlier
points omitted.

Figure 3: Plot of intensity data for 26.57 incidence configuration. A peak is located
at 53. 3 outlier points omitted.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

Calculations
Please see the attached notebook paper with handwritten calculations.

Results
At the beginning of the lab, students took measurements of the distance between the
metal spheres on the surface of the foam cube, which would represent the crystal
structure of the target material. See Table 4 for the results of these measurements.

Table 4: Crystal structure of the foam cube. Includes uncertainty in

measurement, average value, and standard deviation.

After analyzing the graphs and locating the maxima, the values were compared to
accepted maxima values calculated using Braggs Law. The results are summarized in
Table 5.

Table 5: Angles for Maximum Signal Strength. Includes calculated values and
percent error.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

Finally, after finding the experimental values for the maxima, students used the values
from the normal configuration to calculate the wavelength of microwave radiation. The
calculated value for microwave was 3.081 for the first peak and 2.90 for the second peak.
These were outside the uncertainty of measurement but are still close to the accepted value of
3.0.

Conclusion
To summarize, students experimentally verified Braggs Law using a scaled
model of a common experiment. The results for the first and third configuration were
acceptable but the results for the second configuration were not. While the first
configuration yielded an error of around 3% and the third configuration yielded an error
of less than 1%, the second configuration yielded an unacceptable 21% error. A
possible source of error here is the receiver angle not being equal to the transmitter
angle as a result of manual error from the lab group. Another possible source of error is
the equipment, which proved to be faulty as it often showed very different readings for
the same angles of incidence. To correct some of this error, some data points were
omitted. Specifically, in the third configuration, three points landed far off of the
otherwise very cohesive curve. As a result, they were omitted to yield an error of less
than 1%.
Also, the calculated wavelength of microwave radiation was slightly outside the
error range determined based on the ruler used to measure the distance between
spheres on the foam cube. However, the values turned out to be very close to 3.0cm.
Once again, this error may be attributed to inaccuracy of the equipment, which often
gave many different intensity readings for the same angles of incidence.
Overall, this lab was effective in demonstrating the value of Braggs law in
determining the crystal structure of a target material or the wavelength of a given

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #2 Bragg Scattering

February 19, 2014

radiation or wavelike particle. By scaling up the classic experiment, students were able
to simplify the process and better understand Modern Physics as a result.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

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