In a diffraction pattern, what does the term 'fringe separation' refer to?
Practice Questions
Q1
In a diffraction pattern, what does the term 'fringe separation' refer to?
Distance between two minima
Distance between two maxima
Distance between a maximum and a minimum
None of the above
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a diffraction pattern, what does the term 'fringe separation' refer to?
Step 1: Understand what a diffraction pattern is. It is a pattern created when waves, like light, spread out after passing through a small opening or around an obstacle.
Step 2: Identify what maxima means. Maxima are the bright spots in the diffraction pattern where the light waves constructively interfere.
Step 3: Recognize that fringe separation is the distance between two of these bright spots (maxima) in the pattern.
Step 4: Visualize the pattern. If you look at the pattern, you will see alternating bright and dark spots. The distance between two adjacent bright spots is the fringe separation.