Physics 9702 · AS & A Level · The diffraction grating

The diffraction grating — practice question

A parallel beam of monochromatic light with wavelength $\lambda$ falls normally on a diffraction grating $G$. As shown, the angle between the directions of the two second-order diffracted beams at $P_1$ and $P_2$ is $\alpha$. What is the grating line spacing?

  • A$\dfrac{2\lambda}{\sin \alpha}$
  • B$\dfrac{\lambda}{\sin \alpha}$
  • C$\dfrac{2\lambda}{\sin (\alpha/2)}$
  • D$\dfrac{\lambda}{\sin (\alpha/2)}$

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