Diffraction

 

1)         The distance between the first and fifth minima of a single-slit diffraction pattern is 0.35 mm with the screen 40 cm away from the slit, when light of wavelength 550 nm is used.


(a)  
Find the slit width.


(b) 
Calculate the angle θ of the first diffraction minimum.

 

2)         A slit 1 mm wide is illuminated by light of wavelength 589 nm.  We see a diffraction pattern on a screen 3 m away.  What is the distance between the first two diffraction minima on the same side of the     central diffraction maximum ?




3)         (a)  Show that the values of α at which intensity maxima for single slit diffraction occur can be found exactly by differentiating the intensity formula (below) with respect to α and equating the result to       zero, obtaining the condition tanα = α.

                        where,

 

           

            (b) Find the values of α satisfying this relation by plotting the curve y = tan α and the straight line y = α and finding their intersections or by using a calculator to find an appropriate value of α by trial and  error.


            (c) Find the (non-integer) values of m corresponding to successive  maxima in the single slit pattern.  Note that the secondary maxima do not lie exactly halfway between minima.


            (d) Determine the ratio of the intensity of the first secondary maximum to the central maximum.