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

16969 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A water jet starts at a point X and reaches its maximum height at a point Y. Air resistance has a negligible effect on the motion of the water jet. (i) State the direction of the force acting on the jet at Y. (1 mark)


a ball is dropped from rest off a cliff of height 50m, determine the final velocity of the ball assuming no air resistance.


What's the difference between inertial and gravitational mass?


A) Draw field lines around a positive point particle. B) How does a faraday cage prevent the people within it recieving a electric shock ?


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