A beam of parallel light rays is incident on the same screen in the previous problem. If you want to produce a diffraction pattern on the distant wall, you should place in the clamps which of the following optical devices? (A) A prism (B) A narrow slit in a piece of cardboard (C) A rectangular piece of glass (D) A converging lens (E) A diverging lens

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: (B) A narrow slit in a piece of cardboard.

Step by step solution

01

Analyzing Option A - Prism

A prism is an optical device that disperses light into its component colors or spectrum due to the different refractive indices for different wavelengths. It does not create a diffraction pattern since it does not cause light wave interference.
02

Analyzing Option B - Narrow Slit in a Piece of Cardboard

A narrow slit in a piece of cardboard allows light to pass through the slit and then diffract or spread out. When the diffracted rays meet on the screen, they interfere with each other, creating a diffraction pattern. This option is consistent with our goal of producing a diffraction pattern on the distant wall.
03

Analyzing Option C - Rectangular Piece of Glass

A rectangular piece of glass does not cause diffraction of light, as it is a transparent material that allows light to pass through without causing any significant interference among the light waves. Therefore, this option will not produce a diffraction pattern.
04

Analyzing Option D - Converging Lens

A converging lens focuses incoming parallel light rays to a single point, called its focus or focal point. Although lenses can produce interference patterns under certain conditions, it is not the most straightforward or common way to create a diffraction pattern compared to other options in this exercise.
05

Analyzing Option E - Diverging Lens

A diverging lens spreads incoming parallel light rays away from a single point (its focal point). Similar to the converging lens, a diverging lens is not directly associated with the creation of diffraction patterns as it does not inherently cause wave interference.
06

Identifying the Best Option

After considering all the options provided, the best option for creating a diffraction pattern on the distant wall when a beam of parallel light rays is incident on it is #tag_option#(B) A narrow slit in a piece of cardboard#tag_option#. This is because the narrow slit causes light wave interference, which is necessary to produce a diffraction pattern.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

An object initially at the focus of a concave mirror is brought closer to the mirror. As the object is moved toward the mirror's surface, (A) the image gets larger until it is of infinite size when the object reaches the mirror surface. (B) the image gets smaller until it is twice the object size when the object reaches the mirror surface. (C) the image gets smaller until it becomes equal to the object size when the object reaches the mirror surface. (D) the image gets larger until it is twice the object size when the object reaches the mirror surface. (E) the image stays the same size.

A beam of light traveling through a piece of glass emerges into air. Which of the following statements is true as the light exits the glass? i. The speed of light stays the same; ii. The light speeds up; iii. The light slows down; iv. The frequency of the light stays the same; v. The frequency of the light increases; vi. The frequency of the light decreases; vii. The wavelength of the light stays the same; viii. The wavelength of the light increases; ix. The wavelength of the light decreases. (A) i, iv, vii (B) i, v and vii (C) ii, iv and viii (D) ii, v, ix (E) iii, iv and ix

You are attempting to determine the index of refraction of a block of an unknown material. You shine a light beam at various angles \(\theta_1\) from the normal to the block and measure the refraction angle \(\theta_2\), as shown. You collect the following data: $$ \begin{array}{|l|l|} \hline \theta_1(\mathrm{deg}) & \theta_2(\mathrm{deg}) \\ \hline 10 & 5.0 \\ \hline 20 & 12.5 \\ \hline 30 & 18.0 \\ \hline 40 & 24.0 \\ \hline 50 & 28.6 \\ \hline 60 & 33.0 \\ \hline 70 & 36.0 \\ \hline 80 & 40.0 \\ \hline \end{array} $$ a) Determine the index of refraction of the material by two methods. b) Which points would you say represent bad measurements? You stand at a distance \(x\) from a plane (flat) wall mirror.

You are given a thin converging lens with a focal length of \(10 \mathrm{~cm}\). a) An object is placed at \(6 \mathrm{~cm}\) from the lens. Draw a ray diagram for the situation. b) Calculate the image distance. Does the calculated distance agree with the distance given by the ray diagram? Is the image real or virtual? c) The object is moved out to \(8 \mathrm{~cm}\). Draw a ray diagram for the situation. d) Calculate the image distance. Does the calculated distance agree with the distance given by the ray diagram? Is the image real or virtual. Is it larger or smaller than the image from part (a)?

An object initially at infinity is brought closer to a converging lens. As the object is moved, (A) the inverted image moves closer to the far focus and becomes larger. (B) the inverted image moves farther out from the far focus and becomes larger. (C) the upright image moves closer to the far focus and becomes larger. (D) the upright image moves farther out from the far focus and becomes larger. (E) the inverted image moves farther out from the far focus and becomes smaller.

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