CBSE Class 12 · 2012 · Wave OpticsShort Answer

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Use Huygens' principle to explain the formation of the diffraction pattern due to a single slit illuminated by a monochromatic source of light. When the width of the slit is made double the original width, how would this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band?

Solution

by Huygens' principle every point of the wavefront at the slit (width ) acts as a source of secondary wavelets. Wavelets travelling straight () arrive in phase at the centre and give the bright central maximum.
For a direction , the path difference between wavelets from the two edges is . A minimum occurs when the slit can be divided into pairs of halves that cancel:

and secondary maxima occur approximately at

This produces a bright central band flanked by alternate dark and weak bright bands (see intensity plot).
the angular half-width of the central band is , so its linear width . Doubling therefore the width of the central band. Since twice the width of slit lets through twice the amplitude into half the area, the central intensity becomes about as great.

CBSE Class 12 Board · 2012 · Subjective

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