Question

In diffraction experiment from single slit, the angular width of the central maxima does NOT depend upon

• A. width of the slit
• B. wavelength of light used.
• C. ratio of wavelength and slit width.
• D. distance of the slit from the screen.

Hint:

Angular width of the central maximum is 2 lambda over a; the screen distance only sets the linear width.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
For a single slit, the angular half-width of the central maximum is \(\theta\approx\dfrac\lambda a\). So the total angular width is \(\dfrac{2\lambda}{a}\).

Step 2: Dependence
The angular width depends on the wavelength \(\lambda\), on the slit width \(a\), and so on the ratio \(\lambda/a\).

Step 3: Distance to the screen
The screen distance \(D\) does not appear in the formula for the angle. It appears only in the linear width on the screen, \(2\lambda D/a\).

Step 4: Conclusion
The angular width does NOT depend on the distance of the slit from the screen, option (D).

Final Answer:
The angle is 2 lambda over a, which contains no screen distance, option (D). \[ \boxed{\text{distance of the slit from the screen}} \]