Experimental Measurement of the Diameter of a Human Hair via Two-Color Light Diffraction

Cecilia R. Dichtel; June R. Dichtel; William R. Dichtel

doi:10.1080/00332747.2020.1768008

Experimental Measurement of the Diameter of a Human Hair via Two-Color Light Diffraction

Cecilia R. Dichtel, June R. Dichtel, William R. Dichtel^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The width of a human hair sourced from a female elementary school student was measured by light diffraction using red and blue laser pointers. The two laser sources both provided consistent estimates of the hair diameter of approximately 50 μm. The overall experiment and writing process provided a temporary respite from COVID-19 shelter-in-place requirements and deteriorating spring weather that precluded outdoor activities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	267-270
Number of pages	4
Journal	Psychiatry (New York)
Volume	86
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.2020.1768008
State	Published - 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/00332747.2020.1768008

Cite this

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title = "Experimental Measurement of the Diameter of a Human Hair via Two-Color Light Diffraction",

abstract = "The width of a human hair sourced from a female elementary school student was measured by light diffraction using red and blue laser pointers. The two laser sources both provided consistent estimates of the hair diameter of approximately 50 μm. The overall experiment and writing process provided a temporary respite from COVID-19 shelter-in-place requirements and deteriorating spring weather that precluded outdoor activities.",

author = "Dichtel, {Cecilia R.} and Dichtel, {June R.} and Dichtel, {William R.}",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge Northwestern University for salary support and Amazon.com for providing excess cardboard boxes used in this study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright}, Washington School of Psychiatry.",

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AU - Dichtel, June R.

AU - Dichtel, William R.

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PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - The width of a human hair sourced from a female elementary school student was measured by light diffraction using red and blue laser pointers. The two laser sources both provided consistent estimates of the hair diameter of approximately 50 μm. The overall experiment and writing process provided a temporary respite from COVID-19 shelter-in-place requirements and deteriorating spring weather that precluded outdoor activities.

AB - The width of a human hair sourced from a female elementary school student was measured by light diffraction using red and blue laser pointers. The two laser sources both provided consistent estimates of the hair diameter of approximately 50 μm. The overall experiment and writing process provided a temporary respite from COVID-19 shelter-in-place requirements and deteriorating spring weather that precluded outdoor activities.

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Experimental Measurement of the Diameter of a Human Hair via Two-Color Light Diffraction

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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