Due to the wave nature of light, light shined on a single slit will produce a diffraction pattern? green light (520 nm) is shined on a slit with width 0.440 mm.(a) find the width of the central maximum located 1.65 m from the slit.(b) what is the width of the first order fringe?

Yes, it will produce a diffraction pattern.

a. 3.9 mm b. 1.95 mm

Explanation:

The light shined from a single slit will produce a diffraction pattern because,  the wavefront act as wavelets which generates its own wave according to Huygens principle. This therefore causes the diffraction pattern.

Given

wavelength of green light, λ = 520 nm = 520 × 10⁻⁹ m = 5.20 × 10⁻⁷ m

width of slit, d = 0.440 mm = 0.44 × 10⁻³ m = 4.4 × 10⁻⁴ m

Distance of slit from central maximum , D = 1.65 m

Distance of first minimum from central maximum, y = ?

a. The relationship between the slit width and wavelength is given by [tex} dsinθ = mλ [/tex]where d = slit width, θ = angular distance from central maximum, λ = wavelength of light and m = ±1, ±2, ±3...

The relationship between y and D is given by

Since θ is small, sinθ ≈ θ ≈ tanθ

so, dθ = mλ ⇒ θ = mλ/d = y/D

Therefore, y = mλD/d

Now, for the first minimum above the slit, m = +1 and for the first minimum below the slit, m = -1. So, y₁ =  λD/d and y₋₁ =  -λD/d. So, the width of the central maximum Δy is the difference between the first minima below and above the central maximum. So, Δy = y₁ - y₋₁ = λD/d -(-λD/d) = 2λD/d

Substituting the values from above, Δy= 2 × 5.20 × 10⁻⁷ × 1.65/4.4 × 10⁻⁴ =  3900 × 10⁻⁶ m = 3.9 × 10⁻³ m = 3.9 mm

b. The first order fringe is the fringe located between the first minimum and the second minimum. From dsinθ = mλ and tanθ = y/D when θ is small, sinθ ≈ θ ≈ tanθ. So, y = mλD/d. Let m= 1 and m=2 be the first and second minima respectively. So,y₁ =  λD/d and y₂ =  2λD/d. The difference Δy₁ = y₂ - y₁ is the width of the first order fringe. Therefore, Δy₁ = 2λD/d - λD/d= λD/d. Substituting the values from above, we have

λD/d= 5.20 × 10⁻⁷ × 1.65/4.4 × 10⁻⁴= 1.95 × 10⁻³ m = 1.95 mm

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