Investigators measure the size of fog droplets using the diffraction of light. A camera records the diffraction pattern on a screen as the droplets pass in front of a laser, and a measurement of the size of the central maximum gives the droplet size. In one test, a 690 nm laser creates a pattern on a screen 30 cm from the droplets. If the central maximum of the pattern is 0.24 cm in diameter, how large is the droplet?

the diameter of the droplet is 0.021045 cm or 2.1 × 10⁻² cm

Explanation:

Given the data in the question;

Diameter of bright central maxima;

⇒ 2 × ( 1.22 × (λD/d) ) ⇒ 2.44( λD/d )

where D is the distance from the the droplet to the screen ( 30 cm )

d is the diameter of the droplet

λ is the wavelength of light ( 690 nm  = 690 × 10⁻⁷ cm )

since the central maximum of the pattern is 0.24 cm in diameter,

we substitute

0.24 cm = 2.44( ( 690 × 10⁻⁷ cm × 30 cm ) / d )

solve for d

d = 2.44( ( 690 × 10⁻⁷ cm × 30 cm ) / 0.24 cm

d = 0.0050508 cm² / 0.24 cm

d = 0.021045 cm or 2.1 × 10⁻² cm

Therefore, the diameter of the droplet is 0.021045 cm or 2.1 × 10⁻² cm