Diffraction by a Human Hair

An Inquiry-Based Lab Exercise in Wave Optics

Authors

Keywords:

school experiment, wave optics, interference, Fraunhofer diffraction, Babinet's principle, least-squares method, confidence intervals

Abstract

An inquiry-based laboratory module in wave optics was implemented during training camps for candidates for the Russian national team in astronomy and astrophysics (grades 10–11). For the extended version, elements of statistical data analysis are included. A sample of an additional research question is discussed separately: testing whether hair thickness depends on a person’s height using a small participant sample.

Author Biography

Egor Ledenev, Moscow State University

Student of the Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University

References

Hecht E. Optics. 5-е изд. Pearson, 2016. 704 с. ISBN 978-1292096964.

Born M., Wolf E. Principles of Optics. 7-е изд. Cambridge University Press, 1999. 952 с.

Goodman J. W. Introduction to Fourier Optics. 3-е изд. Roberts, Company, 2005. 491 с. ISBN 978-0974707723.

Лабораторная работа 409 : Дифракция Фраунгофера (методические материалы). Физический факультет МГУ имени М. В. Ломоносова, 2026. URL: http://genphys.phys.msu.ru/rus/lab/opt/Lab409_2026.pdf.

Сборник лабораторных работ по общей физике : в 3 т. Том 2. Оптика / под ред. А. В. Максимычева. 2014. 446 с. URL: https://books.mipt.ru/book/296954.

Митин И. В., Русаков В. С. Анализ и обработка экспериментальных данных. Москва : Физический факультет МГУ имени М. В. Ломоносова, 2012. 44 с.

Сажина О. С. Основы математической обработки наблюдательных и экспериментальных данных для астрономов. Москва : Издательство Московского университета, 2024. 286 с. ISBN 978-5-19-011930-5.

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Published

2026-03-20

How to Cite

[1]
Ledenev, E. 2026. Diffraction by a Human Hair: An Inquiry-Based Lab Exercise in Wave Optics. Astronomy Education. 1, 1 (Mar. 2026), 65–69.

Issue

No. 1 (2026)

Section

Student Research Activity

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Egor Ledenev

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