If the slit width is halved in a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happen
Practice Questions
Q1
If the slit width is halved in a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the angular width of the central maximum?
It doubles
It halves
It remains the same
It quadruples
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the slit width is halved in a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the angular 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 band in this pattern.
Step 3: The width of the central maximum is related to the width of the slit. A wider slit produces a narrower central maximum, while a narrower slit produces a wider central maximum.
Step 4: If we halve the width of the slit, we are making it narrower.
Step 5: Since the slit is now narrower, the central maximum will become wider.
Step 6: Specifically, halving the slit width doubles the angular width of the central maximum.
Single-Slit Diffraction – The phenomenon where light spreads out after passing through a narrow slit, creating a pattern of bright and dark regions.
Angular Width of Central Maximum – The angle that defines the extent of the central bright fringe in a diffraction pattern, which is influenced by the slit width.
Relationship Between Slit Width and Angular Width – The angular width of the central maximum is inversely proportional to the slit width; halving the slit width doubles the angular width.
