What is the relationship between the width of the central maximum and the wavele
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the relationship between the width of the central maximum and the wavelength in a single-slit diffraction pattern?
Directly proportional
Inversely proportional
No relationship
Exponential relationship
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the relationship between the width of the central maximum and the wavelength in a single-slit diffraction pattern?
Step 1: Understand what a single-slit diffraction pattern is. It occurs when light passes through a narrow slit and spreads out.
Step 2: Identify the central maximum. This is the brightest part in the middle of the diffraction pattern.
Step 3: Know that the width of the central maximum is how wide this bright area is.
Step 4: Learn about wavelength. Wavelength is the distance between two peaks of a wave of light.
Step 5: Recognize that if the wavelength increases (the light has a longer wavelength), the central maximum becomes wider.
Step 6: Understand that if the slit width decreases (the slit is narrower), the central maximum also becomes wider.
Step 7: Conclude that the width of the central maximum is inversely proportional to the slit width (narrower slit = wider maximum) and directly proportional to the wavelength (longer wavelength = wider maximum).
