Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 24 - The Wave Nature of Light - Search and Learn - Page 712: 3

Answer

See the detailed answer below.

Work Step by Step

In figure 24-16, We know that white light is a mixture of all visible wavelengths, and we also know that each color is bent to a definite degree. When the sky is full of rain, or rain droplets, the white light penetrates these water droplets and then comes out analyzed to its colors which we call the rainbow colors. We call this process the dispersion of white light. We also know that the index of refraction is greater for the shorter wavelengths, and vice versa. So that the violet light is bent at a maximum angle downward from the horizontal line and the red light is bent to the minimum angle below the horizontal line as well (since the normal to the surface is the horizontal line). And since the water has a greater index of refraction than the air, the coming out rays bend away from the normal line and hence violet became the lowest color and red is the highest color, as we see with our naked eyes. In figure 24-26, We know, in n a diffraction grating, that $$m\lambda=d\sin\theta$$ which tells us that the angle of diffraction is directly related to the wavelength of the light. So, the greater the wavelength, the greater the angle of its first-order bright fringe. As we see in figure 24-26, red light has the maximum wavelength in the rainbow color, so its diffracted angle must be the maximum one, as it appears there in the mentioned figure in your textbook. And violet has the minimum wavelength, so its angle of diffraction is the least. Therefore, the violet is closer to the central maxima while the red is the farthest from the central maxima.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.