What this calculator does
Bragg's Law works out diffraction angle for X-rays reflecting off crystal lattice planes at a given spacing. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
Formulanλ = 2d·sinθ
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Diffraction order (n) | A number. Starts at 1. |
| X-ray wavelength (pm) | A number, measured in pm. Starts at 154. |
| Interplanar spacing (pm) | A number, measured in pm. Starts at 314. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with diffraction order (n)
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while diffraction order (n) varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.