If the wavelength of light used in a single-slit diffraction experiment is incre
Practice Questions
Q1
If the wavelength of light used in a single-slit diffraction experiment is increased, what will happen to the position of the first minimum? (2022)
It moves closer to the center
It moves away from the center
It remains unchanged
It disappears
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the wavelength of light used in a single-slit diffraction experiment is increased, what will happen to the position of the first minimum? (2022)
Step 1: Understand that in a single-slit diffraction experiment, light passes through a narrow slit and creates a pattern of light and dark areas on a screen.
Step 2: Know that the position of the first dark area (minimum) in this pattern is determined by the formula a sin(θ) = λ, where 'a' is the width of the slit, 'θ' is the angle to the first minimum, and 'λ' is the wavelength of the light.
Step 3: Recognize that if we increase the wavelength (λ) of the light, we are changing one part of the equation.
Step 4: Since 'a' (the slit width) remains constant, increasing 'λ' means that the value of sin(θ) must also increase to keep the equation balanced.
Step 5: As sin(θ) increases, the angle θ must also increase because sin(θ) is a function that increases as θ increases.
Step 6: A larger angle θ means that the position of the first minimum moves further away from the center of the pattern on the screen.
Single-Slit Diffraction – The phenomenon where light spreads out after passing through a narrow slit, creating a pattern of light and dark fringes.
Wavelength and Angular Position – The relationship between the wavelength of light and the angular position of the diffraction minima, described by the equation a sin(θ) = λ.
