If a light wave passes through a narrow slit and produces a diffraction pattern,
Practice Questions
Q1
If a light wave passes through a narrow slit and produces a diffraction pattern, what happens to the intensity of the central maximum compared to the other maxima?
It is the same
It is greater
It is lesser
It is zero
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If a light wave passes through a narrow slit and produces a diffraction pattern, what happens to the intensity of the central maximum compared to the other maxima?
Step 1: Understand what a light wave is. A light wave is a type of energy that travels in waves and can be seen by our eyes.
Step 2: Learn about a narrow slit. A narrow slit is a small opening that light can pass through.
Step 3: Know what diffraction is. Diffraction is when light waves bend around obstacles or spread out after passing through a slit.
Step 4: Recognize the diffraction pattern. When light passes through a narrow slit, it creates a pattern of bright and dark areas on a screen.
Step 5: Identify the central maximum. The central maximum is the brightest part of the diffraction pattern, located in the middle.
Step 6: Compare the central maximum to other maxima. The central maximum is brighter (has greater intensity) than the other maxima (the other bright spots).
Step 7: Conclude that the intensity of the central maximum is greater than that of the other maxima.
Diffraction – The bending of waves around obstacles and the spreading of waves when they pass through a narrow opening.
Intensity Distribution – The variation of light intensity across the diffraction pattern, where the central maximum is typically the brightest.
