A light is shone through a diffraction grating of slit spacing 4.5x10^5 lines per metre. The incident wavelength is 650nm. Find the angle produced by the incident light and the 2nd order maximum.

In the question you are given the slit spacing of the diffraction grate. To find the fringe spacing of this grate you can use d=1/N where N is the slits per metre. In this question this would be 1/4.5x10^5 = d = 2x10^-6 m. To find the angle provided by the second order maximum, rearrange the equation nλ=dsinθ to make sinθ the subject.This would then become nλ/d = sinθ.To find sinθ, sub in the values given to you in the question; i.e. n=2, λ=650nm and d=2x10^-6 m.This gives sinθ=0.65.Use your calculator to find sin-1(0.65) to find θ=40.5°.

SC
Answered by Sarah C. Physics tutor

4840 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

What determines the acoustic impedance of a material and why is it useful in understanding ultrasound imaging?


Two balls with the same kinetic energy have mass of ball a = m and ball b = 2m. What is the ratio of their momentums: a/b?


Describe how the average density of matter in the universe affects its ultimate fate?


How can an object be accelerating if it does not change in speed?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning