Explain how a bright line is formed by the diffraction grating at the first order diffraction angle

A diffraction grating is basically a series of very small, point-like light sources, where the adjacent ones are always a given distance away. To have a bright line, the light waves from all of the point-like sources must interfere constructively. This happens when the path difference between the adjacent light rays is an integer multiple of the wavelength. Therefore, there will a bright line for all the angles for which the path difference is the 0, the wavelength, twice the wavelength, and so on. Another name for the integer multiple is called the order of diffraction. Hence, at the first order diffraction angle, the path difference between the adjacent rays is exactly the wavelength of the light we use, so the light from each source on the grating will interfere constructively. This results in a bright line. 

Answered by Abel B. Physics tutor

17727 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Water flows through an electric shower at a rate of 6kg per minute. Assuming no heat is transferred to the surroundings, what power is required to heat the water by 20K as it flow through the shower?


What is the angular speed of a car wheel of diameter 0.400m when the speed of the car is 108km/h?


Determine an approximate value for the acceleration of free fall using a tennis ball, metre ruler and a stopwatch.


Bernard says that a mass executing uniform circular motion is not accelerating as it's speed is not changing. Which parts of his statement are correct and which are false. For those which are false state why they are and give the correct version.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences