Which of the following statements about diffraction gratings is true?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following statements about diffraction gratings is true?
They can only produce first-order maxima
They can produce multiple orders of maxima
They do not produce any maxima
They only work with monochromatic light
Diffraction gratings can produce multiple orders of maxima due to the constructive interference of light waves.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following statements about diffraction gratings is true?
Solution: Diffraction gratings can produce multiple orders of maxima due to the constructive interference of light waves.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what a diffraction grating is. It is an optical component with a pattern that splits light into several beams.
Step 2: Learn about constructive interference. This happens when light waves overlap in such a way that they amplify each other.
Step 3: Realize that when light passes through a diffraction grating, it can create bright spots called maxima.
Step 4: Know that these maxima occur at different angles and are called orders. The first bright spot is the first order, the second is the second order, and so on.
Step 5: Conclude that diffraction gratings can produce multiple orders of maxima because of the constructive interference of light waves.
