Double slit vs diffraction grating similarity’s and differences

Double Slit

Diffraction

Differences

Differences

Results are bands of fringes

Similarity’s

Source of light

Results are spots that spread out from the centre

Laser

One colour (one frequency/wavelength), “Monochromatic source”

One wavelength

Blue

Green

300 nm

Red

650 nm

350 nm

Must be coherent = Constant phase difference

Only two slits

Multiple slits

Equation:

21196ADF-2685-45B6-A182-8D7E8551A98C

W = Width of fringe (M)

lambda = wavelength (M)

D = Distance between slits and screen (M)

S = Slit separation (M)

Equation:

121E2D71-F1D2-49E1-9297-CDEE6F78AB05

n = Order of fringe (M)

lambda = wavelength (M)

d = Diffraction gradient separation [same as S] (M)

sin(theta) = angle of a bright fringe from the centre

BB00B609-2AF6-4B2F-AF30-3FD3C260D2DD

6A1437EE-53B8-4495-9CA8-2C2AC3DA1D9C

C332863B-6967-4C75-A8A7-4D76D572E7F8

0BDC5EFB-AC05-4A34-828F-4780A700BD35

4EF0F534-68BB-4CEA-BF02-C80F3CDBC3BE