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When a compact disc is illuminated by a ...

When a compact disc is illuminated by a source of white light, coloured lines are observed. This is due to

A

Dispersion

B

Diffraction

C

Interference

D

Refraction

Text Solution

AI Generated Solution

The correct Answer is:
To solve the question regarding why colored lines are observed when a compact disc (CD) is illuminated by white light, we can break down the explanation into several steps: ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding the Compact Disc Structure**: - A compact disc has a reflective surface that contains many fine, concentric grooves or lines. These grooves are closely spaced and are essential for the functioning of the CD. 2. **Illumination with White Light**: - When white light (which contains all colors of the spectrum) strikes the surface of the CD, it interacts with these grooves. 3. **Diffraction Phenomenon**: - The closely spaced grooves on the CD act as a diffraction grating. A diffraction grating is an optical component with a regular pattern that splits and diffracts light into several beams traveling in different directions. 4. **Formation of Colored Patterns**: - As the white light is diffracted by the grooves, different wavelengths (colors) of light are bent at different angles. This separation of colors results in the formation of colored lines or patterns that we observe. 5. **Conclusion**: - The colored lines observed on the CD when illuminated by white light are due to the phenomenon of diffraction, caused by the fine grooves acting as a diffraction grating. ### Final Answer: The colored lines observed when a compact disc is illuminated by a source of white light are due to **diffraction**. ---

To solve the question regarding why colored lines are observed when a compact disc (CD) is illuminated by white light, we can break down the explanation into several steps: ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding the Compact Disc Structure**: - A compact disc has a reflective surface that contains many fine, concentric grooves or lines. These grooves are closely spaced and are essential for the functioning of the CD. 2. **Illumination with White Light**: ...
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