
In a single slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit is made double the original width. How does this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band?
Answer
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Hint : The fringe width is inversely proportional to the slit width. The intensity is directly proportional to the square of the slit width.
Formula used: In this solution we will be using the following formula;
where is the width of the central maximum in a single slit diffraction, is the distance of the slit to the screen, is the wavelength of the light, and is the slit width
Complete step by step answer
In a single slit experiment, the width of the central maximum is given by
where is the width of the central maximum in a single slit diffraction, is the distance of the slit to the screen, is the wavelength of the light, and is the slit width
Hence, when the when the width is doubled, while every other variable is kept constant we have
Hence, by comparison to the first equation, we can see that
Hence, we can conclude that the width of the maximum central decreases.
For the intensity, it is intensity is directly proportional to the square of the fringe with as in
Then where is a constant of proportionality,
Hence, when the width of the slit is doubled (and allowing all the variables making up the constant), we have
then,
, hence, by comparison with the original intensity, we see that
Hence, it is four times as intense as the original intensity.
Note
For clarity, the intensity is directly proportional to the square of the slit width because the intensity is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude which in turn is directly proportional to the slit width. This is because; increasing the fringe width increases the amount of light which passes onto the screen.
Formula used: In this solution we will be using the following formula;
Complete step by step answer
In a single slit experiment, the width of the central maximum is given by
Hence, when the when the width is doubled, while every other variable is kept constant we have
Hence, by comparison to the first equation, we can see that
Hence, we can conclude that the width of the maximum central decreases.
For the intensity, it is intensity is directly proportional to the square of the fringe with as in
Then
Hence, when the width of the slit is doubled (and allowing all the variables making up the constant), we have
Hence, it is four times as intense as the original intensity.
Note
For clarity, the intensity is directly proportional to the square of the slit width because the intensity is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude which in turn is directly proportional to the slit width. This is because; increasing the fringe width increases the amount of light which passes onto the screen.
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