Consider Figure 3 from the experimental details that shows the diffraction patterns of different white light sources focused through a grating. Explain why you see the spatial separation of colors in the diffraction pattern for all light sources.
Additional info that may be useful:
The next part of the experiment is to replace your slits with a diffraction grating that has the words "600 lines per mm" written on it.
When you shine the light through the diffraction grating, you can see one bright spot on your screen. You decide to bring the screen closer to the grating, and when the screen is a distance of 25.0 cm from the grating, you can see three bright spots (one in the middle, one to the left, and one to the right) on your screen.
You realize that these three spots correspond to the m = 0, 1, and -1 bright fringes in the diffraction pattern for the grating and represent areas where you have constructive interference.
You measure the distance from the center bright fringe to the fringes on the right and left: For the bright fringe on the left side, y1 = 10.4 cm (m = 1). For the bright fringe on the right side, y-1 = 10.1 cm (m = -1).
You've also been told that white light displays a very neat-looking diffraction pattern on a screen.
You replace your laser pointer with different white light sources to compare their patterns.
You are able to find the following types of white light sources:
(a) a fluorescent tube from the ceiling light fixtures
(b) the LED light from an optics kit
(c) an old light bulb from your desk lamp
(d) a lit candle
You place each white light source in front of the grating and then use a converging lens in front of the light source to focus the light onto the center of the grating. You take photographs of the diffraction patterns you observe (Figure 3 above).