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Question

What happens to the central maximum’s width in a single-slit diffraction pattern if the wavelength is
doubled?

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Choose one · Correct answer highlighted

Explanation

**Single-slit pattern** intensity I = I₀ (sinα/α)², α=π a sinθ/λ, central maximum at α=0, minima at α=nπ, so a sinθ=nλ, width increases with λ and D decreases with a, for a=15 μm λ=750 nm first minimum sinθ=750/15000=0.05 θ≈2.87°, angular width of central maximum 2θ≈5.74°. Angular width 2θ = (2λ/a) . If λ doubles, the width doubles. Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v, sinC = 1/n, λ' = λ/n and A = 2a cos(φ/2), calculation gives Doubles, illustrating interference, diffraction and polarization principles.

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