Final answer:
A diffraction grating's advantage over a double slit is its ability to produce sharper interference patterns due to the large number of evenly spaced slits that result in more detailed interference effects. Therefore, the correct option is d).
Step-by-step explanation:
Advantages of Diffraction Gratings Over Double Slits
When it comes to dispersing light into a spectrum, a diffraction grating has certain advantages over a double slit. A diffraction grating consists of a large number of evenly spaced parallel slits. Because of the multitude of slits, which can number in the thousands per millimeter, diffraction gratings cause more extensive interference effects than double slits. This results in a more sophisticated interference pattern. Specifically, the interference patterns produced by a diffraction grating are sharper and more finely dispersed compared to those produced by just two slits.
Looking at the science behind it, a diffraction grating works due to the principle of constructive and destructive interference, characterized by the equation d sin θ = mλ, where d is the slit separation, θ is the angle of diffraction, m is the order of the fringe, and λ is the wavelength of light. Each slit in the grating acts as an individual source of waves that interfere with each other, leading to greater dispersion and resolution of the light spectrum. In conclusion, the advantage of a diffraction grating over a double slit pertains to its ability to create sharper interference patterns. The correct option that identifies this benefit is d) A diffraction grating produces sharper interference patterns.