What is the effect of increasing the slit width in a single-slit diffraction exp
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the effect of increasing the slit width in a single-slit diffraction experiment? (2021)
Fringe width increases
Fringe width decreases
No effect on fringe width
Fringe pattern disappears
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the effect of increasing the slit width in a single-slit diffraction experiment? (2021)
Step 1: Understand what a single-slit diffraction experiment is. It involves light passing through a narrow slit and creating a pattern of light and dark bands on a screen.
Step 2: Know that the slit width is the size of the opening through which light passes.
Step 3: Realize that when you increase the slit width, the light spreads out less as it passes through the slit.
Step 4: Understand that a smaller spread of light means the angles at which the light creates bright and dark bands (fringes) become smaller.
Step 5: Recognize that the fringe width is the distance between these bright and dark bands on the screen.
Step 6: Conclude that if the angles decrease, the distance between the fringes also decreases, leading to narrower fringe widths.