Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello!

My experiment is measuring the level of sugar in a liquid using a laser pointer,
i have got to the step where you add sugar to your water and shine the laser beam through.
It has entered at the same point and leaves at a different but then misses the paper and does not hit the paper higher then then the original mark (when prism is empty).

Please help as this is urgent.
Thank you.

Hi MatthewSher,

I’m assuming that you’re working on the project described here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p028.shtml

Please note that Figure 6 in the project procedure shows the experimental set up from above. This figure shows that the solid red line (laser beam path with sugar/water in prism) is diverted to one side of the original mark (indicated by the dotted red line). So if you’ve built the apparatus as shown the laser beam wouldn’t be diverted above the original mark.

If the laser beam is not hitting the paper on the wall, you might try a larger piece of paper or your could move the prism and laser closer to the wall.

I hope this helps. Please post again if you have more questions.

A. Norman