Resumen de Teaching the Operating Principles of a Diffraction Grating Using a 3D-Printable Demonstration Kit
The principles which a diffraction grating provides for the dispersion of optical radiation, as employed in most monochromators, are often not easily embraced by analytical chemistry students. To this end, a 3D-printable demonstration kit has been created with the aim to more clearly demonstrate the concepts of diffraction and interference based wavelength selection. The kit consists of 3D-printable sinusoidal waves of various wavelengths and a platform on which angles at which constructive interference occurs may be recorded. The conceptual demonstration of diffraction grating operation is complemented by a real experiment done on the same platform, using a section of a DVD as a dispersive element and laser pointer light sources. Given the widespread availability of 3D-printers and use of low cost components, this demonstration is not limited to instructors, but can also be printed and used by the students themselves.
