In a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the width of the central maximum as the slit width decreases?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the width of the central maximum as the slit width decreases?
It increases
It decreases
It remains the same
It becomes zero
As the slit width decreases, the central maximum becomes wider due to increased diffraction.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In a single-slit diffraction experiment, what happens to the width of the central maximum as the slit width decreases?
Solution: As the slit width decreases, the central maximum becomes wider due to increased diffraction.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what a single-slit diffraction experiment is. It involves shining light through a narrow slit and observing the pattern that forms on a screen.
Step 2: Know that the central maximum is the brightest part of the diffraction pattern, located in the middle.
Step 3: Recognize that diffraction is the bending of light waves when they pass through a narrow opening.
Step 4: Realize that the width of the slit affects how much the light bends. A narrower slit causes more bending.
Step 5: Conclude that as the slit width decreases, the light bends more, which makes the central maximum wider.
