The Intensity at a Secondary Maximum of a Single-Slit Diffraction

question 24

Multiple Choice

The intensity at a secondary maximum of a single-slit diffraction pattern is less than the intensity at the central maximum chiefly because:

• A)some Huygens wavelets sum to zero at the secondary maximum but not at the central maximum
• B)the secondary maximum is further from the slits than the central maximum and intensity decreases as the square of the distance
• C)the Huygens construction is not valid for a secondary maximum
• D)the amplitude of every Huygens wavelet is smaller when it travels to a secondary maximum than when it travels to the central maximum
• E)none of the above

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Definitions:

Replicable

Describes a study or experiment whose results can be achieved again when the study is repeated under the same conditions.

Replicable

Capable of being repeated or duplicated under similar conditions to achieve a similar result.

Independent Variables

Variables in a scientific experiment that are manipulated or changed by the researcher to determine their effect on the dependent variable.

Clever Hans

Refers to a case study from early 20th century of a horse that was claimed to perform arithmetic and other intellectual tasks, later found to be responding to involuntary cues from humans.