Final answer:
The question asks about diffraction patterns of light passing through a single slit. The pattern produced by the shortest wavelength will have the more narrowly spaced bright fringes. The angle for the first minimum is determined by the slit width and the wavelength of light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves figuring out which pattern corresponds to the light of the shortest wavelength passing through a single slit and then projecting onto a screen.
When monochromatic light passes through a narrow slit, it diffracts, and a pattern appears on the screen. This pattern features a central maximum and several smaller maxima on either side.
The width of the slit, the wavelength of the light, and the screen's distance from the slit determine the spread and intensity of the pattern.
Generally, with all other factors being equal, the light of shorter wavelengths will produce a more closely spaced diffraction pattern.
That's because the angle for the first minimum in a single-slit diffraction pattern is given by the equation θ = arcsin(λ/a), where λ is the wavelength of the light, and a is the width of the slit.
Thus, the smaller the wavelength, the smaller the angle, which makes for a more narrowly spaced pattern.
To answer this student question more precisely, we would need the diagrams referenced in their question. However, without them, we can state that the narrower the spacing of the bright fringes, the shorter the wavelength of light used to create the pattern.
This student question involves concepts such as diffraction, monochromatic light, and single-slit patterns, all critical components of wave optics.