Final answer:
The position on the detector of the center of the first-order interference fringe for light with a wavelength of 500 nm can be determined using the formula: position of center = (wavelength x distance) / (number of lines per mm). Plugging in the values, we get a position of center equal to 0.625 mm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diffraction gratings can be characterized by the number of lines per mm. For a transmission grating, this refers to the number of slits per mm of width. In the case of a grating with 800 lines/mm, the position on the detector of the center of the first-order interference fringe for light with a wavelength of 500 nm can be determined using the formula:
position of center = (wavelength x distance) / (number of lines per mm)
Plugging in the values, we get:
position of center = (500 nm x 1 mm) / (800 lines)
position of center = 0.625 mm