Question
A monochromatic light of wavelength 500 nm is incident normally on a single slit of width 0.2 mm to produce a diffraction pattern. Find the angular width of the central maximum obtained on the screen.
Estimate the number of fringes obtained in Young's double slit experiment with fringe width 0.5 mm, which can be accommodated within the region of the total angular spread of the central maximum due to the single slit.
Solution
Angular width of central maximum
Linear width of central maxima in the diffraction pattern
Let ‘n’ be the number of interference fringes which can be accommodated in the central maxima
