Question

One day, after pulling down your window shade, you notice that sunlight is passing through a pinhole in the shade and making a small patch of light on the far wall. Having recently studied optics in your physics class, you're not too surprised to see that the patch of light seems to be a circular diffraction pattern. It appears that the central maximum is about 3 cm across, and you estimate that the distance from the window shade to the wall is about 4 m. The average wavelength of sunlight is 550 nm.

Estimate the diameter of the pinhole (in mm).

Express your answer using one significant figure.

Answer 1

0.2mm

Step-by-step explanation:

Circular aperture of diameter 'D' will have a bright central maximum of diameter:

w= 2.44λL/D

Where D=Diameter of pin hole

λ=Average wavelength

w=Central distance

L=length

D= 2.44λL/w => (2.44 x 550 x
`10^-^9` x 4)/0.03

D= 0.2mm

Thus, the diameter of the pinhole is 0.2mm