Chapter 19.2, Problem 21PP

To determine

To Describe:The pattern produced on a screen when white light is shining through a grating.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Diffraction of light waves is the bending of light waves around the boundaries of an obstacle and illuminates the region where the geometrical shadow of the obstacle is expected. As the light wave encounters the grating, the wave bends and there will be a diffraction of light waves from the grooves in the grating. And interference takes place between the light waves that are diffracted from the grooves. The interference may be constructive or destructive. For constructive interference, the band produced in the pattern is bright and for the destructive interference, the dark region can be seen in the pattern.

When white color shines through a grating, a complete spectrum of colors is produced on a screen. Since white color is composed of all the visible colors, dark fringes of one color are occupied by the bright fringes of a different color.