Thread: Diffraction Grating

hi,

When white light it diffracted through a diffraction grating I understand that it is split up into a spectrum of all the colours (as each wavelength is diffracted a different amount). But why does red light (which has the largest lamda) appear furtherest away from the centre maxima? Why is red light diffracted the most?

any help very much appreciated!

Originally Posted by Ant

hi,

When white light it diffracted through a diffraction grating I understand that it is split up into a spectrum of all the colours (as each wavelength is diffracted a different amount). But why does red light (which has the largest lamda) appear furtherest away from the centre maxima? Why is red light diffracted the most?

any help very much appreciated!

Smallest frequency, i.e. longest wavelength...



Questions like these can be answered in the new, MHF affiliated Physics Help Forum.

If you think about the equation relating the angle from the centre a maximum occurs and wavelength;



As mentioned by colby red light has a larger wavelength, thus the value for and consequently the value for is larger.