(a) Why do we not encounter diffraction effects of light in everyday observations?
(a) Why do we not encounter diffraction effects of light in everyday observations?
(b) In the observed diffraction pattern due to a single slit, how will the width of central maximum be affected if
(i) the width of the slit is doubled;
(ii) the wavelength of the light used is increased?
Justify your answer in each case.
1 Answers
(a) We do not encounter diffraction effects of light in everyday observations. To observe diffraction, size of obstacle/aperture must be comparable with wavelength of light but in daily observations size of obstacle/aperture is much larger than the wavelength of light.
Angular width of central fringe βθ = 2λ/a
(b) (i) If the width of slit is doubled, the (angular) width of central fringe(∝(1/a)) is halved.
(ii) When wavelength of light used is increased (βθ ∝ λ), the width of central fringes increases