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AP Physics 2
14.7 Diffraction
AdvancedMCQMathematicalProportional AnalysisConceptual21.4k
Diffraction setup with single slit of width a and screen at distance L.
Diffraction setup with single slit of width a and screen at distance L.
Monochromatic light is incident normally on a single narrow slit of width \(a\), forming a diffraction pattern on a screen located a distance \(L\) away, where \(L \gg a\). The experiment is performed first with red light (\(\lambda_{\text{red}} \approx 700 \text{ nm}\)) and then with blue light (\(\lambda_{\text{blue}} \approx 450 \text{ nm}\)). Which row in the table correctly compares the central maximum width for red light (\(w_{\text{red}}\)) and blue light (\(w_{\text{blue}}\)), and states the ratio of the central maximum width to the width of a secondary maximum (\(w_{\text{central}} / w_{\text{secondary}}\)) for either wavelength?

RowCentral Maximum Width ComparisonRatio \(w_{\text{central}} / w_{\text{secondary}}\)
A\(w_{\text{red}} < w_{\text{blue}}\)\(1\)
B\(w_{\text{red}} > w_{\text{blue}}\)\(2\)
C\(w_{\text{red}} > w_{\text{blue}}\)\(1\)
D\(w_{\text{red}} < w_{\text{blue}}\)\(2\)

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