Light of wavelength 500 nm is incident normally on a single slit of width 0.40 mm. What is the approximate angular width of the central diffraction maximum?
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Question

Light of wavelength 500 nm is incident normally on a single slit of width 0.40 mm. What is the approximate angular width of the central diffraction maximum?

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

For a single slit, the angular width of the central maximum is approximately Δθ = 2λ ÷ a. Given, λ = 500×10⁻⁹ m, a = 0.40×10⁻³ m. Therefore, Δθ = 2×500×10⁻⁹ ÷ (0.40×10⁻³) = 2.5×10⁻³ rad = 2.5 mrad. Correct option: B.