Why Does Single-Slit Diffraction Create a Pattern of Maxima and Minima?

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Single-slit diffraction creates a pattern of maxima and minima due to the self-interference of the wavefront as it propagates and spreads. This phenomenon occurs when the slit width is larger than the wavelength of the light, allowing different parts of the wavefront to diffract and interfere with each other. The resulting pattern is a superposition of waves emanating from various points along the slit. Understanding this concept is crucial for grasping the underlying principles of wave behavior in optics. Self-interference is key to explaining the observed diffraction pattern.
Theo1
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When waves diffract through one slit why does it form a series of maxima and minima when there is no interference?...our teacher won't tell us and its really annoying me...and i have no idea why it should.
please help!
~sorry if this is in he wrong place
 
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Loosely speaking, the wavefront interferes with itself- it has finite extent, and so as the wavefront propagates and spreads (diffraction), the various parts interfere.
 
Theo1 said:
When waves diffract through one slit why does it form a series of maxima and minima when there is no interference?...our teacher won't tell us and its really annoying me...and i have no idea why it should.
please help!
~sorry if this is in he wrong place

Short answer is, it interferes with itself. It only really applies when the slit is larger than the wavelength and is a superposition of sets of waves diffracting at various points along the length of the slit.
 

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