jtbell
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A very wide single slit is simply two instances of edge diffraction, facing each other. If you move the edges closer together, the two edge-diffraction patterns merge in a complicated way. The result has to be calculated using the methods of Fresnel diffraction. When the slit becomes narrow enough, you get the familiar simple single-slit pattern of Fraunhofer diffraction.PeterDonis said:For a single slit, 3 cm might already be too large to get significant diffraction effects with visible light, since it is about a hundred thousand times larger than the wavelength.