rebecca.barrett
rebecca.barrett 1d ago • 0 views

Solved Examples of Diffraction Through a Single Slit

Hey Physics students! 👋 Let's break down single-slit diffraction. It can seem tricky, but with practice, you'll ace it! This guide + quiz will help you master the concepts. Good luck! 🍀
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eduardohall2001 Jan 2, 2026

📚 Quick Study Guide

  • ✨ Single-slit diffraction occurs when a wave passes through a narrow slit, causing it to spread out.
  • 📏 The angle $\theta$ to the minima (dark fringes) in the diffraction pattern is given by: $a \sin(\theta) = m \lambda$, where $a$ is the slit width, $\lambda$ is the wavelength of light, and $m$ is the order of the minimum ($m = 1, 2, 3,...$).
  • 💡 The central maximum is twice as wide as the other secondary maxima.
  • 🌊 The intensity of the diffraction pattern decreases as you move away from the central maximum.
  • 📐 For small angles, $\sin(\theta) \approx \theta$, so the formula simplifies to $a \theta = m \lambda$.

🧪 Practice Quiz

  1. A beam of monochromatic light with a wavelength of 500 nm is incident on a single slit of width 2 μm. What is the angle of the first minimum?
    1. A) 7.18°
    2. B) 14.48°
    3. C) 28.96°
    4. D) 0.25°
  2. If the slit width is decreased, what happens to the width of the central maximum in a single-slit diffraction pattern?
    1. A) Decreases
    2. B) Increases
    3. C) Remains the same
    4. D) Disappears
  3. Monochromatic light passes through a slit of width 0.1 mm and forms a diffraction pattern on a screen 2 m away. The width of the central maximum is 2 cm. What is the wavelength of the light?
    1. A) 400 nm
    2. B) 500 nm
    3. C) 600 nm
    4. D) 700 nm
  4. In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the slit width is equal to the wavelength of the light. At what angle does the first minimum occur?
    1. A) 0°
    2. B) 30°
    3. C) 90°
    4. D) 60°
  5. What happens to the diffraction pattern if white light is used instead of monochromatic light?
    1. A) No pattern is formed.
    2. B) A sharper pattern is formed.
    3. C) A colored pattern is formed.
    4. D) The pattern remains the same.
  6. The second minimum in a single-slit diffraction pattern occurs at an angle of 45°. What is the ratio of the wavelength of light to the slit width ($\lambda/a$)?
    1. A) $\sqrt{2}$
    2. B) $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$
    3. C) $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$
    4. D) 2
  7. How does increasing the wavelength of light affect the spacing between the minima in a single-slit diffraction pattern?
    1. A) Decreases the spacing
    2. B) Increases the spacing
    3. C) Does not affect the spacing
    4. D) Makes the pattern disappear
Click to see Answers
  1. Answer: B) 14.48°
  2. Answer: B) Increases
  3. Answer: B) 500 nm
  4. Answer: C) 90°
  5. Answer: C) A colored pattern is formed.
  6. Answer: B) $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$
  7. Answer: B) Increases the spacing

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