Question

Consider two diffraction gratings. One grating has 3000 lines per cm, and the other one has 6000 lines per cm. Both gratings are illuminated with a beam of the same monochromatic light. Which grating produces the greater dispersion

Answer 1

Answer:

The 6000 lines per cm grating, will produces the greater dispersion .

Explanation:

A diffraction grating is an optical component with a periodic (usually one  that has ridges or rulings on their surface rather than dark lines) structure that splits and diffracts light into several beams travelling in different directions.

The directions of the light beam produced from a diffraction grating depend on the spacing of the grating, and also on the wavelength of the light.

For a plane diffraction grating, the angular positions of principle maxima is given by

(a + b) sin ∅n = nλ

where

a+b is the distance between two consecutive slits

n is the order of principal maxima

λ is the wavelength of the light

From the equation, we can see that without sin ∅ exceeding 1, increasing the number of lines per cm will lead to a decrease between the spacing between consecutive slits.

In this case, light of the same wavelength is used. If λ and n is held constant, then we'll see that reducing the distance between two consecutive slits (a + b) will lead to an increase in the angle of dispersion sin ∅. So long as the limit of sin ∅ not greater that one is maintained.