When You Look at a Single Slit Diffraction Pattern Produced

question 38

Multiple Choice

When you look at a single slit diffraction pattern produced on a screen by light of a single wavelength, you see a bright central maximum and a number of maxima on either side, their intensity decreasing with distance from the central maximum. If the width of the slit is increased,

• A) the pattern shrinks in size. (central maximum less wide; other maxima in closer to it)
• B) the pattern increases in size. (central maximum wider; other maxima farther from it)
• C) it does not affect the size of the pattern.
• D) the width of the central maximum increases, but the other maxima do not change in position or width.
• E) the width of the central maximum decreases, but the other maxima do not change in position or width.