Question

If the separation between the first and the second minima of a single-slit diffraction pattern is 6.0 mm, what is the distance between the screen and the slit? The light wavelength is 500 nm and the slit width is 0.16 mm.

Answer 1

To find the distance between the screen and the slit in a single-slit diffraction pattern, use the formula 'd = (m * λ * L) / w'. Given the separation between the first and second minima (6.0 mm), the wavelength of light (500 nm), and the slit width (0.16 mm), the distance between the screen and the slit is 19.2 cm.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the distance between the screen and the slit, we can use the formula:

d = (m * λ * L) / w

where d is the separation between the minima, m is the order of the minimum, λ is the wavelength of light, L is the distance between the screen and the slit, and w is the width of the slit.

Given that the separation between the first and second minima is 6.0 mm, the wavelength of light is 500 nm, and the slit width is 0.16 mm, we can plug these values into the formula:

d = (1 * 500 nm * L) / 0.16 mm = 6.0 mm

Now we can solve for L to find the distance between the screen and the slit:

L = (6.0 mm * 0.16 mm) / (1 * 500 nm) = 19.2 cm