Which of the following lists the correct sequence of steps that occur when using a diffraction grating to bend light?

• A. Light is absorbed by the diffraction grating, then reflected, and finally focused into a single spot.
• B. Light is refracted by the diffraction grating, then split into its component colors by a prism, and projected onto a screen.
• C. Light passes through the diffraction grating, constructive and destructive interference occur, and bright and dark fringes are formed on a screen.
• D. Light is blocked by the diffraction grating, causing no pattern to appear on the screen.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a diffraction grating is an optical device with many closely spaced slits or lines that light can pass through or reflect from, causing interference patterns.
2. When light passes through the diffraction grating, it is not absorbed or blocked; instead, it undergoes diffraction, which means the light waves spread out as they pass through the slits.
3. The diffracted light waves from each slit overlap and interfere with each other, producing regions of constructive interference (bright fringes) and destructive interference (dark fringes).
4. The condition for constructive interference (bright fringes) is given by the grating equation: \(n \lambda = d \sin \theta\), where \(n\) is the order of the maximum, \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of light, \(d\) is the distance between adjacent slits, and \(\theta\) is the angle of the diffracted light.
5. As a result, a pattern of bright and dark fringes appears on a screen placed behind the grating, allowing the separation of light into its component wavelengths based on the angles at which constructive interference occurs.