Question

A horizontal beam of laser light of wavelength 501 nm passes through a narrow slit that has width 6.20×10−2 mm . The intensity of the light is measured on a vertical screen that is 3.00 m from the slit.

Use the result of part A to estimate the width of the central diffraction maximum that is observed on the screen.
Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Answer 1

here,

for the width of the central diffration maximum

width of central maximum = 2 * wavelength * screen distance/slit width

width of central maximum = 2 * 501 *10^-9 * 3/(6.2 *10^-6)

width of central maximum = 0.048 m

the width of the central maximum is 0.048 m