Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 22 - Wave Optics - Conceptual Questions - Page 648: 6

Answer

(a) The width of the central maximum increases. (b) The width of the central maximum decreases. (c) The screen would have a uniform color with no apparent rings.

Work Step by Step

We can write an equation for width of the central maximum: $w = \frac{2.44~\lambda~L}{d}$ (a) If the wavelength $\lambda$ is increased, then the width of the central maximum increases. (b) If the diameter $d$ of the aperture is increased, then the width of the central maximum decreases. (c) $sin~\theta = \frac{n~\lambda}{d}$ If the aperture diameter $d$ is less than the light wavelength, then $sin~\theta \gt 1$, which means that no dark fringe would appear. The screen would have a uniform color with no apparent rings.
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