The Diffraction Grating
Part of the Optics, Waves and Modern Physics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 32 of 53.
A grating: many slits, d = 1/N apart (N lines per length).
d sin θ = nλ
sin θ ≤ 1: the order n is at most d/λ.
Challenge
A grating has N = 300 lines per mm. Blue light of 450 nm falls on it. First find the gap d, then the angle θ of the second-order maximum (n = 2).
Try it yourself
This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Optics, Waves and Modern Physics
1Reflection and Refraction
Reflection of LightThe Refractive IndexSnell's LawTotal Internal ReflectionDispersionApparent DepthRecap - Optical Fiber4Mechanical Waves
What a Wave IsTwo Graphs of a WaveWhen Pulses MeetInterferenceStanding WavesHarmonicsRecap - Guitar String3Thin Lenses
Lenses and Their RaysThe Lens EquationVirtual ImagesTwo LensesA Lens and a MirrorRecap - Build a Projector6Light as a Wave
Light Through Two SlitsFringes on a ScreenDiffraction by One SlitThe Diffraction GratingRecap - Measure with a CD