Question

At the first minimum adjacent to the central maximum of a single-slit diffraction pattern the phase difference between the Huygens wavelet from the top of the slit and the wavelet from the midpoint of the slit is:

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The whole wave front may be divided into two halves , the upper half and the lower half . Waves coming from top of the slit or top of upper half and top of lower half or from the mid point of slit can form minima at given point only when there is phase difference of π radian or path difference of λ or one wavelength. Every other point in upper half and corresponding point in lower half will interfere destructively at that point and will form dark spot at the given point . In this way minima will be formed at that point

Hence the phase difference between the Huygens wavelet from the top of the slit and the wavelet from the midpoint of the slit at first minima is π radian .