All Problems

Scattering of Particles. Rutherford-Bohr Atom

Problem 6.29

Radiation of atomic hydrogen falls normally on a diffraction grating of width l=6.6 mml=6.6 \mathrm{~mm}. The 50th line of the Balmer series in the observed spectrum is close to resolution at a diffraction angle θ\theta (in accordance with Rayleigh's criterion). Find that angle.

Reveal Answer
 For n1sinθn3πc/lR, whence θ60\text { For } n \gg 1 \sin \theta \approx n^{3} \pi c / l R, \text { whence } \theta \approx 60^{\circ}