Single Slit Diffraction

• What is diffraction?

  The spreading out of waves after passing through a gap

  
• How do waves behave after passing through a narrow gap?

  They curve as they spread out
• What does the extent of diffraction depend on?

  The width of the gap compared to the wavelength

  
• What happens when the gap is much smaller than the wavelength?

  No diffraction occurs

  
• What occurs when the gap is much larger than the wavelength?

  No diffraction occurs

  
• When does diffraction occur?

  When the wavelength and gap width are similar

  
• What happens when the wavelength is larger than the gap?

  More diffraction occurs

  
• What happens when the wavelength is smaller than the gap?

  Less diffraction occurs

  
• What happens to the amplitude of the wave after passing through a gap?

  The amplitude decreases due to energy absorption
• What do wavefronts represent?

  The crests and troughs of the wave
• What property of a wave changes during diffraction?

  Only the amplitude changes
• What remains the same during diffraction?

  The wavelength of the wave
• What is produced when light passes through a single slit?

  A series of light and dark fringes

  
• What causes the bright fringes in a diffraction pattern?

  Constructive interference of wavefronts

  
• What causes the dark fringes in a diffraction pattern?

  Destructive interference of wavefronts

  
• How does the diffraction pattern of a laser beam differ from that of a double slit?

  The central maximum is wider and brighter

  
• What is the central maximum in a single slit diffraction pattern?

  The brightest and widest fringe

  
• How do the other maxima compare to the central maximum?

  They are narrower and less bright
• What happens to the intensity of bright fringes as the order increases?

  They get dimmer
• What is the intensity pattern of blue laser light through a single slit?

  The central maximum has the greatest intensity
• What happens to the intensity of fringes moving away from the central maximum?

  The intensity decreases
• What diffraction pattern does white light produce through a single slit?

  A bright central maximum with a spectrum

  
• Why is the central maximum of white light bright?

  Constructive interference from all colors occurs
• How do the other maxima in the white light pattern appear?

  They are composed of a spectrum of colors
• Which color appears nearest to the central maximum?

  Violet or blue
• Which color appears furthest from the central maximum?

  Red
• What happens to the colors as they move away from the central maximum?

  They look blurry and merge together
• How does the wavelength of blue and red light change in the pattern?

  Blue decreases, red increases with maxima
• What happens to the intensity of the central maxima in white light diffraction?

  It is equal to that of monochromatic light
• How do the non-central maxima compare to the central maxima?

  They are wider and less intense
• What happens to the fringe spacing in the intensity pattern of white light?

  The spacing between maxima gets smaller

  
• How does the gap size affect diffraction?

  Waves spread out less as gap size increases

  
• What happens when the wavelength is increased?

  Diffraction increases and angle increases
• How does red light's diffraction pattern compare to blue light's?

  Red light produces wider fringes

  
• What happens if the slit is made narrower?

  The angle of diffraction increases
• What is the effect of making the slit wider?

  The fringes become narrower
• Which scenario best demonstrates diffraction?

  Sound waves passing a steel rod
• Why is option D the correct answer for diffraction demonstration?

  X-rays have wavelengths close to atomic gaps

  
• What should be constant when drawing diffracted waves?

  The wavelength between each wavefront

  
• What changes when waves are diffracted?

  Only the amplitude changes