# B Help with relationships in equations ΔX/L = λ/d?

1. Sep 29, 2016

### totomyl

Can someone explain to me the relationships with this equation (and probably any other equation). For example i don't fully understand how the ΔX is inversely related to the d. I have an idea of how this is so, however i can't really picture it with numbers. If you could explain the relationships and how they work that would be nice ty.

2. Sep 29, 2016

### Staff: Mentor

What context is this in? What does the equation describe?

3. Sep 29, 2016

### Staff: Mentor

The equation in the thread title (which should be here in your post) is
$$\frac{\Delta x}{L} = \frac{\lambda}{d}$$
I'm assuming that L and $\lambda$ are constants in this equation.
If you double d, the result is that $\Delta x$ is halved. If you triple d, $\Delta$ becomes 1/3 of its former value. That's what inversely related means.

4. Sep 29, 2016

### Gordianus

My guess is that a plane wave of wavelength lambda impinges on a opaque screen with a hole of size d. The outgoing diffraction pattern has an angle of about lamda/d. Another screen , at L meters from the first one (really far), is used to observe the diffraction pattern. delta_x is the approximate size of the main diffraction lobe.
I'd like to see the original context