If a light wave passes through a narrow slit and produces a diffraction pattern, what happens to the intensity of the central maximum compared to the other maxima?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If a light wave passes through a narrow slit and produces a diffraction pattern, what happens to the intensity of the central maximum compared to the other maxima?
It is the same
It is greater
It is lesser
It is zero
The intensity of the central maximum is greater than that of the other maxima in a diffraction pattern.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: If a light wave passes through a narrow slit and produces a diffraction pattern, what happens to the intensity of the central maximum compared to the other maxima?
Solution: The intensity of the central maximum is greater than that of the other maxima in a diffraction pattern.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand what a light wave is. A light wave is a type of energy that travels in waves and can be seen by our eyes.
Step 2: Learn about a narrow slit. A narrow slit is a small opening that light can pass through.
Step 3: Know what diffraction is. Diffraction is when light waves bend around obstacles or spread out after passing through a slit.
Step 4: Recognize the diffraction pattern. When light passes through a narrow slit, it creates a pattern of bright and dark areas on a screen.
Step 5: Identify the central maximum. The central maximum is the brightest part of the diffraction pattern, located in the middle.
Step 6: Compare the central maximum to other maxima. The central maximum is brighter (has greater intensity) than the other maxima (the other bright spots).
Step 7: Conclude that the intensity of the central maximum is greater than that of the other maxima.
