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Light from a laser is incident on a grating as shown - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 16 - 2022
Question 16
Light from a laser is incident on a grating as shown. A series of interference maxima are observed on the screen. A student makes the following statements about the... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Light from a laser is incident on a grating as shown - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 16 - 2022
Step 1
I Increasing the distance between the grating and the screen increases the distance between the observed maxima.
Answer
This statement is correct. As the distance between the grating and the screen increases, the light waves travel further, resulting in a larger separation between the interference maxima observed on the screen.
Step 2
II Increasing the distance between the laser and the grating increases the distance between the observed maxima.
Answer
This statement is incorrect. The distance from the laser to the grating does not affect the separation of the maxima. The distance directly affecting the maxima separation is primarily the distance from the grating to the screen.
Step 3
III Decreasing the distance between the slits on the grating decreases the distance between the observed maxima.
Answer
This statement is correct. When the distance between the slits is decreased, the angle of diffraction increases, resulting in a smaller distance between the maxima on the screen.