Physics 9702 · AS & A Level · The diffraction grating

The diffraction grating — practice question

(a)[2]

State what the diffraction of a wave means.

(b)[3]

Laser light with wavelength $500\,\text{nm}$ is directed normally at a diffraction grating. The diffraction pattern produced has diffraction maxima up to and including the fourth-order maximum. Calculate the minimum possible line spacing for the diffraction grating.

(c)[2]

The light in (b) is now changed to red light. State and explain whether this is likely to lead to the formation of a fifth-order diffraction maximum.

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