Use Huygen’s principle to explain the formation of diffraction pattern due to a single slit illuminated by a monochromatic source of light.
When the width of slit is made double the original width, how this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band?

Solution

According to Huygen's principle "The net effect at any point due to a number of wavelets is equal to sum total of contribution of all wavelets with proper phase difference.

The point O is maxima because contribution from each half of the slit S₁S₂is in phase, i.e., the path difference is zero.

At point P,
i) If $straight S subscript 2 straight P space minus space straight S subscript 1 straight P space equals space nλ straight space then comma space point straight space straight P straight space would straight space be straight space point straight space of straight space minima$ .
ii) If $Error converting from MathML to accessible text.$ , then point P would be maxima. At the point of maxima, intensity would decrease.
The width of the central maxima is given by, $fraction numerator 2 bold italic lambda bold italic D over denominator bold italic a end fraction$

where a is the size of the slit; D is the distance between the screen and the slit.

When the width of the slit is made double the original width, then the size of central maxima will be reduced to half and intensity will be four times.

For Daily Free Study Material Join wiredfaculty

Wave Optics

Use Huygen’s principle to explain the formation of diffraction pattern due to a single slit illuminated by a monochromatic source of light.
When the width of slit is made double the original width, how this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band?

Some More Questions From Wave Optics Chapter

Is the speed of light in glass independent of the colour of light? If not, which of the two colours red and violet travels slower in a glass prism?

Mock Test Series

NCERT Sample Papers

Entrance Exams Preparation

Phone Number

Email Address

Location

For Daily Free Study Material Join wiredfaculty

Wave Optics

Use Huygen’s principle to explain the formation of diffraction pattern due to a single slit illuminated by a monochromatic source of light. When the width of slit is made double the original width, how this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band?

Some More Questions From Wave Optics Chapter

Is the speed of light in glass independent of the colour of light? If not, which of the two colours red and violet travels slower in a glass prism?

Mock Test Series

NCERT Sample Papers

Entrance Exams Preparation

Use Huygen’s principle to explain the formation of diffraction pattern due to a single slit illuminated by a monochromatic source of light.
When the width of slit is made double the original width, how this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band?