Practice question
Question
What distinguishes the interference pattern of a double-slit experiment from the diffraction pattern of
a single slit?
Explanation
**Diffraction bending** property of light waves causes bending around corners, width of central maximum inversely proportional to slit width, intensity of secondary maxima decreases with order because less constructive interference, angular position of minima θ_n = n λ/a, n=±1,±2..., second minimum n=2, third n=3, condition for third secondary maximum approx a sinθ = (2n+1)λ/2. Interference involves superposition from two sources, producing evenly spaced fringes, while diffraction from one slit creates a broad central maximum with weaker secondary maxima. Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v, sinC = 1/n, λ' =
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