Single slit diffraction distance

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around single slit diffraction, specifically examining how the width of the slit affects the distance between the diffraction fringes and the size of the central bright fringe.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between slit width and fringe distance, questioning whether increasing the width leads to larger or smaller distances between fringes and the size of the central bright fringe.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing their interpretations of the effects of slit width on the diffraction pattern, with some suggesting that increasing the width may lead to a more pronounced diffraction pattern, while others reference the mathematical relationships involved.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of conflicting information from online resources, and participants are questioning their assumptions based on these discrepancies.

labview1958
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What happens to the distance between fringes as the width of the single slit become larger? Does the distance between fringes increases? What happens to the centre bright fringe? Does it become larger with an increasing single slit width? My hunch is: Increasing the width increases the size of the bright central fringe, but applets on the net show otherwise. Can someone help?
 
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http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/singleslit.htm

If the width of the slit increases, the diffraction pattern becomes more pronounced. It should be otherwise. Do you agree?
 
If you look at the formula for single slit diffraction you see that at a given wavelength if you increase the size of the slit then the angle at which the minima occur will decrease. Hence we will be able to see further higher order minimas.
 
Increasing slit width will decrease or increase the distance between fringes?
 

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