If the slit width is halved in a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happen

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Question: If the slit width is halved in a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the width of the central maximum?

Options:

Correct Answer: It doubles

Solution:

If the slit width is halved, the width of the central maximum doubles, as it is inversely proportional to the slit width.

If the slit width is halved in a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the width of the central maximum?

If the slit width is halved in a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the width of the central maximum?

Step 1: Understand that in a single-slit diffraction experiment, light passes through a narrow slit and creates a pattern of light and dark bands on a screen.
Step 2: The central maximum is the brightest and widest part of this pattern, located in the middle.
Step 3: The width of the central maximum is related to the width of the slit. Specifically, it is inversely proportional to the slit width.
Step 4: This means that if you make the slit narrower (like halving the width), the central maximum becomes wider.
Step 5: Therefore, if the slit width is halved, the width of the central maximum doubles.

Single-Slit Diffraction – The phenomenon where light spreads out after passing through a narrow slit, creating a pattern of light and dark bands.
Width of Central Maximum – The central bright fringe in a diffraction pattern, which is affected by the width of the slit.
Inverse Proportionality – The relationship where one quantity increases as another decreases; in this case, the width of the central maximum is inversely proportional to the slit width.