PhysicsRankPREVIEWTry a problem

THE PRACTICE STUDIO

Go slowly. Ask why. Make it yours.

PRACTICE · MEMBERSIntermediate · Single correct

PRACTICE / Single-slit diffraction

Width of the broad central band

Light of wavelength 500 nm passes through a slit of width 0.20 mm onto a screen 2 m away.

Find the approximate width between the first minima on opposite sides.

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • λ = 500×10⁻⁹ m
  • a = 0.00020 m
  • D = 2 m

Uniform single slit; Fraunhofer far field and small diffraction angles; wavelength in the propagation medium.

  1. A0.020 m0.020\ \mathrm m
  2. B0.001 m0.001\ \mathrm m
  3. C0.010 m0.010\ \mathrm m
  4. D0.005 m0.005\ \mathrm m

Try it on paper first. Free sample problems in every collection include the complete reasoning: find one in this collection →