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AP Physics 2
14.7 Diffraction
IntermediateMCQMathematicalConceptual18.7k
A horizontal setup diagram shown from a side perspective. On the left, a rectangular laser housing labeled Laser emits a thin horizontal beam traveling to the right along a dashed central axis. The beam strikes a vertical slide holder containing a thin vertical line representing a strand of hair. A distance labeled L = 2.0 m extends horizontally from the slide holder to a vertical flat screen on the right. On the screen, a central bright band of light is depicted along with adjacent dark and bright fringes. A vertical dimension arrow spans the total height of the central bright maximum between the two surrounding dark fringes, labeled 3.0 cm. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
Diffraction setup using a hair strand.
A laser beam with wavelength \(\lambda = 600 \text{ nm}\) shines perpendicularly onto a thin strand of human hair mounted on a frame. The resulting diffraction pattern is observed on a screen located at a distance \(L = 2.0 \text{ m}\) behind the hair, where the central maximum has a total width of \(3.0 \text{ cm}\) between the first minima on either side. According to Babinet's principle, the diffraction pattern of the hair is identical to that of a single slit with a width equal to the diameter of the hair. What is the diameter of the hair?

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