DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION RESEARCH OF A DIGITAL NEWTON’S RING EXPERIMENT INSTRUMENT

In view of the problems in traditional Newton’s rings experiments, a digital multi-wavelength Newton’s rings experimental device is designed and made, based on a modular design concept. The device consists of a light source module, a microscope module, a support module, and a measurement module. In the light source module, multi-wavelength, high-brightness LEDs that don’t need preheating are used in place of sodium lamps. This solves the problem of the long preheating time required for sodium lamps and enriches experimental content. In the microscope module, a compact digital microscope is used instead of a reading microscope. The digital microscope has a high magnification and offers clear imaging, allowing direct observation and measurement on a computer screen. This avoids eye fatigue from long-term observation through the eyepiece. In the support module, an integrated support is designed. The positions of all components are designed as a whole and then made via 3D printing, enhancing portability and reducing operational difficulty. In the measurement module, a custom scale and software are developed. Calibration and measurement are achieved through a three-point circle-determination method, which identifies the center of the rings. This method addresses the hared problem of determine ring center in traditional instruments, improves measurement accuracy, allows direct radius measurement, and simplifies the measurement process. The self-made device is used to measure the radius of curvature of Newton’s rings and the refractive index of distilled water, with the uncertainty of the results being evaluated. Additionally, simulation experiments are conducted to address issues like the wide wavelength range of LED light sources. The digital multi-wavelength Newton’s rings experimental device has broad applications in universities, colleges, educational institutions, and science popularization exhibitions.