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

---

Definitions:

Proof Required

A stipulation that demands evidence or substantiation to support a claim or assertion.

State Law

Law established by each state in the United States, governing within its own territory and subject to the federal constitution.

Risk-Utility Analysis

An assessment method used to determine if the benefits of a certain action or product outweigh its risks, often used in product liability law.

Sperry-New Holland

A brand known for its agricultural machinery and equipment, historically significant in the mechanization of agriculture.