Final answer:
The second-order minimum in a single-slit diffraction pattern can be approximated by doubling the angle of the first minimum if the width of the slit and the wavelength of the light remain constant. Therefore, if the first minimum is at 14.5°, the second-order minimum is approximately at 29.0°.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the pattern produced by light passing through a single slit and interfering to form a series of dark and bright fringes on a screen, a phenomenon known as diffraction. Specifically, you are asking about the angular position of the second-order minimum in a single-slit diffraction pattern.
To find the second-order minimum, you can use the formula for a single-slit diffraction minimum: d sin(θ) = mλ, where d is the width of the slit, θ is the angle of the minimum, m is the order of the minimum (an integer), and λ is the wavelength of the light.
Since the first minimum occurs at 14.5°, to find the second-order minimum, we'll use m = 2.
Assuming the same conditions that resulted in the first minimum at 14.5°, we double this angle to estimate the position of the second-order minimum.
Therefore, the second-order minimum is approximately at an angle of 29.0°. This is an approximation given that the actual positions can be a bit more complicated, depending on the interplay between λ and d.
For the widths of the maxima and minima, the question suggests using your results to illustrate that the angular width of the central maximum is about twice that of the next maximum, corresponding to the angles between the first and second minima.