|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1999
>
September
> |
|
In the Classroom
|
|
Tested Demonstrations
|
|
A Classroom Demonstration of Rayleigh Light Scattering in Optically Active and Inactive Systems
|
submitted by: Monica Avalos Pecina and Charles A. Smith
Chemistry Department, Our Lady of the Lake University, 411 SW 24th Street, San Antonio, TX 78207-4689
checked by: Kristin Johnson
Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
checked by: Penny Snetsinger
Department of Chemistry and Physics, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT 06432
|
|
September 1999
Vol. 76 No. 9
p. 1230
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Abstract |
|
The objective of this demonstration is to allow students to make a direct observation of the rotation of polarized light in an optically active medium. The observation is performed by passing a laser beam through a long vertical cylinder, which contains a solution of a nonabsorbing optically active compound. Rayleigh scattered light from particulates in the solution allows a spiral pattern of light and dark areas to be observed. Students observe the three-dimensional nature of the spiral pattern by walking around the setup and viewing the cylinder and its contents on all sides. They can manipulate the spiral pattern by rotating the laser. To promote student understanding of the demonstration, a second demonstration is performed by replacing the optically active solution in the vertical cylinder with an optically inactive solution. The optically inactive demonstration allows students to observe scattered light that follows the theoretical directional radiation pattern of an oscillating dipole. Such Rayleigh scattering cross-sections are commonly encountered in discussions of Rayleigh scattering in many physical chemistry and modern optics textbooks. The demonstrations in this article are inexpensive and allow students to directly observe the results of Rayleigh scattering, optical activity, and the directional radiation pattern of an oscillating dipole.
|
|
| More Information |
 Citation |
Pecina, Monica Avalos; Smith, Charles A. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 1230.
|
Keywords |
Demonstrations; Physical Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Lasers / Laser Spectroscopy; Quantum Chemistry; Teaching / Learning Aids
|
History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
July 30, 1999
June 23, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1999
>
September
> Page
1230
|
|
|
| JCE HS CLIC |
|
Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.
|
| Contributions Welcome |
| JCE welcomes your submission |
| Advertisers |
| In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first. |
| Be An Ambassador |
| Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants. |
|
