Chapter 27: Q13CQ (page 995)
What are the advantages of a diffraction grating over a prism in dispersing light for spectral analysis?
The advantages are it may be used to separate wavelengths, easily change the number of lines in the grating to suit a given application, and use both reflected and transmitted light.
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(a) What is the minimum angular spread of a \(633 - nm\) wavelength \({\rm{He - Ne}}\) laser beam that is originally \(1.00{\rm{ }}mm\) in diameter?
(b) If this laser is aimed at a mountain cliff \(15.0{\rm{ }}km\) away, how big will the illuminated spot be?
(c) How big a spot would be illuminated on the Moon, neglecting atmospheric effects? (This might be done to hit a corner reflector to measure the round-trip time and, hence, distance.) Explicitly show how you follow the steps in Problem-Solving Strategies for Wave Optics.
A telescope can be used to enlarge the diameter of a laser beam and limit difddfraction spreading. The laser beam is sent through the telescope in opposite the normal direction and can then be projected onto a satellite or the Moon.
(a) If this is done with the Mount Wilson telescope, producing a \(2.54 - m\) diameter beam of \(633 - nm\) light, what is the minimum angular spread of the beam?
(b) Neglecting atmospheric effects, what is the size of the spot this beam would make on the Moon, assuming a lunar distance of \(3.84 \times {10^8}{\rm{ }}m\)?
Find the distance between two slits that produces the first minimum for 410-nm violet light at an angle of 45.0º.
Using the information given in the preceding question, explain why sunsets are red.
Go outside in the sunlight and observe your shadow. It has fuzzy edges even if you do not. Is this a diffraction effect? Explain.
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