In: Physics
Problem 2. In diffraction experiments involving multiple wavelengths of light passing through the same aperture, the higher order maxima of one wavelength can coincide with a lower order maxima of a longer wavelength. In the above diffraction experiment, the 3rd maxima of 600 nm light is found to coincide with the 4th maxima of a different wavelength of light. What is the other wavelength?
Given m3 = 3, 
3 = 600nm and m4 = 4, 
4 = ?
We know that for a grating having grating element ( a + b ) the
angle of diffraction 
 in the mth order spectrum for
a light of wavelength 
 is given by
( a + b ) sin(
)
= m 
for a given grating ( a + b ) is
constant i.e., same aperture and hence 
 will be the same when m
is constant.
m 
 = constant
=> m3
3
= m4
4
=> 3 x 600nm = 4 x 
4
=> 
4 = 450nm
the other wavelength is 450nm