How Do Diffraction Gratings Affect Light Wavelengths?

In summary, the conversation is about diffraction gratings and their properties. The first question involves finding the angular positions of the first and second order maxima for 3 different wavelengths when a diffraction grating with a pitch of 3.27mm is illuminated at normal incidence. The second question asks for the total angular dispersion of the visible spectrum in first and second order for a diffraction grating with 600 lines per mm. The third question involves a transmission grating with a pitch of 1.75mm and a collimated beam of red light with a wavelength of 625nm. The task is to find the expected angles for the zeroth and first order maxima and determine the number of possible orders on both sides of
  • #1
wolfson_1123
14
0
Would appreciate anyhelp to solving any of these questions ty.

1 A diffraction grating of pitch 3 .27mm is illuminated at normal incidence with
light comprised of various wavelengths. If components of wavelength
495nm, 625nm and 990nm are present find:-
a) the angular positions of the first order maxima for these 3 wavelengths,
b) the angular positions of the second order maxima ( for all 3 ),and
c) the number of possible orders for each wavelength.

2 A diffraction grating has 600 lines per mm. If white light contains visible
wavelengths in the range 400nm to 700 nm, calculate the total angular
dispersion of the visible spectrum in 1st and 2nd order.

3 A transmission grating of pitch 1.75mm is illuminated by a collimated beam
of red light of wavelength 625nm. The beam is incident at at angle of 30o
with respect to the normal. At what angles would you expect to see the
zeroth order and the two first order maxima. Find by trial and error the
number of orders possible both sides of the zeroth order.

There were 8 questions and these are the ones i am stuck on tyty.
 
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  • #2
Managed to do questions 1 and 2, just need some help on q 3.

Thank you in advance

Wolfson.
 
  • #3


1. To find the angular position of the first order maxima, we can use the formula for diffraction grating: dsinθ = mλ, where d is the pitch of the grating, θ is the angle of diffraction, m is the order of the maxima, and λ is the wavelength of light.

a) For 495nm: θ = sin^-1(495x10^-9/3.27x10^-3) = 0.09 degrees
For 625nm: θ = sin^-1(625x10^-9/3.27x10^-3) = 0.11 degrees
For 990nm: θ = sin^-1(990x10^-9/3.27x10^-3) = 0.18 degrees

b) For 495nm: θ = sin^-1(495x10^-9/3.27x10^-3) = 0.18 degrees
For 625nm: θ = sin^-1(625x10^-9/3.27x10^-3) = 0.22 degrees
For 990nm: θ = sin^-1(990x10^-9/3.27x10^-3) = 0.36 degrees

c) The number of possible orders for each wavelength can be found by rearranging the formula: m = dsinθ/λ.
For 495nm: m = (3.27x10^-3)(sin0.09 degrees)/495x10^-9 = 1. For this wavelength, there is only one possible order.
For 625nm: m = (3.27x10^-3)(sin0.11 degrees)/625x10^-9 = 1. For this wavelength, there is only one possible order.
For 990nm: m = (3.27x10^-3)(sin0.18 degrees)/990x10^-9 = 1. For this wavelength, there is only one possible order.

2. The total angular dispersion can be found by subtracting the angles of the first and last order maxima.
For the first order: θ1 = sin^-1(λ/d) = sin^-1(400x10^-9/600x10^-3) = 0.38 degrees
θ2 = sin^-1(700
 

Related to How Do Diffraction Gratings Affect Light Wavelengths?

1. What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Transverse waves are waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Examples include electromagnetic waves and surface water waves. On the other hand, longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. Examples include sound waves and seismic waves.

2. How do waves interact with different mediums?

Waves can interact with different mediums in various ways. When a wave passes from one medium to another, it can be reflected, transmitted, or refracted depending on the properties of the two mediums. For example, light waves can be reflected by a mirror, transmitted through glass, or refracted when passing through a prism.

3. What is the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and wave speed?

The frequency of a wave is the number of complete cycles it completes in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz). The wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points of the wave that are in phase. The wave speed is the speed at which the wave propagates through the medium. The relationship between these three quantities is given by the equation: wave speed = frequency x wavelength.

4. How are optics and light related to each other?

Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and its propagation through different mediums. Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. Optics and light are closely related, as understanding the properties of light is essential for understanding how it behaves in different optical systems.

5. What are some real-world applications of wave and optics principles?

There are numerous real-world applications of wave and optics principles, including the development of lenses and mirrors for use in telescopes, microscopes, and cameras. Other applications include fiber optics for telecommunication, lasers for medical procedures and cutting, and spectrophotometry for chemical analysis. Understanding wave and optics principles also plays a crucial role in the design and functioning of many electronic devices, such as computer screens and solar panels.

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