If a diffraction grating has 6,000 lines/cm, what is the distance between two lines on the grating?

Group of answer choices

0.00040 cm

0.00050 cm

8x10-6 m

0.00020 cm

1 answer

To find the distance between two lines on the diffraction grating, you can use the formula:

\[ \text{Distance between lines} = \frac{1 \text{ cm}}{\text{number of lines per cm}} \]

In this case, the grating has 6,000 lines/cm. Therefore:

\[ \text{Distance between lines} = \frac{1 \text{ cm}}{6000} = \frac{1}{6000} \text{ cm} \]

Calculating this gives:

\[ \text{Distance between lines} = 0.0001667 \text{ cm} \approx 0.000167 \text{ cm} \]

In meters, this distance can also be calculated:

\[ 0.000167 \text{ cm} = 0.00000167 \text{ m} = 1.67 \times 10^{-5} \text{ m} \]

Now comparing with the answer choices you provided:

  • 0.00040 cm
  • 0.00050 cm
  • \( 8 \times 10^{-6} \) m (which is equal to 0.000008 m or 0.0008 cm)
  • 0.00020 cm

None of these match our calculated distance of approximately 0.000167 cm. Do you have the correct options or would you like to check it again?