diffraction at a single slit

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Diffraction at a single slit a = λ Semi circular wave fronts a = 2 λ First minima & maxima become visible a = 4 λ Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and o If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases. If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

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Diffraction at a single slit. a = 4 λ. a = λ. a = 2 λ. Semi circular wave fronts. First minima & maxima become visible. Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles. If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction at a single slit

a = λSemi circular wave fronts

a = 2 λFirst minima & maxima

become visible

a = 4 λ

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Page 2: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction at a single slit

a = λSemi circular wave fronts

a = 2 λFirst minima & maxima

become visible

a = 4 λ

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Page 3: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction at a single slit

a = λSemi circular wave fronts

a = 2 λFirst minima & maxima

become visible

a = 4 λ

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Page 4: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction at a single slit

a = λSemi circular wave fronts

a = 2 λFirst minima & maxima

become visible

a = 4 λ

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Page 5: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction at a single slit

a = λSemi circular wave fronts

a = 2 λFirst minima & maxima

become visible

a = 4 λ

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Page 6: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction at a single slit

a = λSemi circular wave fronts

a = 2 λFirst minima & maxima

become visible

a = 4 λ

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Page 7: Diffraction at a single slit

It can be shown that the first minima occurs when sin Ə = λ/a .

aT

First minima

Central maximaƏ

Page 8: Diffraction at a single slit

It can be shown that the first minima occurs when sin Ə = λ/a .

aT

First minima

Central maxima

Q1 Find the angle at which the first minima occurs using microwaves of wavelength 3 cm when directed towards a gap of:1) 6cm2) 4cm

Ə

Page 9: Diffraction at a single slit

It can be shown that the first minima occurs when sin Ə = λ/a .

aT

First minima

Central maxima

Q1 Find the angle at which the first minima occurs using microwaves of wavelength 3 cm when directed towards a gap of:1) 6cm2) 4cm

Q2 Find the angle at which the first minima occurs using lightwaves of wavelength 500 nm when directed towards a pupil of diameter:1) 6mm2) 4mm

Ə

Page 10: Diffraction at a single slit

D

Page 11: Diffraction at a single slit

D

Page 12: Diffraction at a single slit

Points to note: * central fringe is twice as wide as the other fringes * intensity decreases from the centre * Central Fringe width W = λ/a x 2D

D

Page 13: Diffraction at a single slit

Points to note: * central fringe is twice as wide as the other fringes * intensity decreases from the centre * Central Fringe width W = λ/a x 2D

D

Blue light has narrower fringesSo cameras and microscopes

can see more detail using blue filters

Visit :http://www.phys.hawaii.edu/~teb/optics/java/slitdiffr/

Page 14: Diffraction at a single slit

WAVES

For first minimum sin a

Or for small angles in radians

a

a = width of the gap

Page 15: Diffraction at a single slit

How do you get the minima

a

Q First minima

wave trains arrive in phase at the central maxima.

λ

λ/2

A

B

C D

Q

AQ is λ/2 longer than CQ so is out of phase by π giving destructive interferenceCorresponding points along AB which are λ/2 apart also causedestructive interference.

Page 16: Diffraction at a single slit

How do you get the minima

a

Q First minima

wave trains arrive in phase at the central maxima.

λA

B

C

Q

Page 17: Diffraction at a single slit

How do you get the minima

a

Q First minima

wave trains arrive in phase at the central maxima.

λ

λ/2

A

B

C D

Q

AQ is λ/2 longer than CQ so is out of phase by π giving destructive interferenceCorresponding points along AB which are λ/2 apart also causedestructive interference.

Page 18: Diffraction at a single slit

How do you get the minima ?

a

Q First minima

λ

λ/2

A

B

C D

Q

AQ is λ/2 longer than CQ so is out of phase by π giving destructive interferenceCorresponding points along AB which are λ/2 apart also causedestructive interference.

CD = λ = a sinƏ 2 2

λ = a sinƏ λ = sinƏ a

Ə

Page 19: Diffraction at a single slit

The double slit pattern is superimposed on the much broader single slit diffraction pattern.

The bright central maximum is crossed by the double slit interference pattern, but the intensity still falls to zero where minima are predicted from single slit diffraction. The brightness of each bright fringe due to the double slit pattern will be “modulated” by the intensity envelope of the single slit

pattern.

Diffraction by a Double Slit

The double slit fringes are still in

the same placeSingle slit pattern

Double slit pattern

Page 20: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Experimental observations from the double slit

i) For a pair of slits 0.5 mm apart:

λ red » λ blue

ii) Using white light, fringes appear from all the various wavelengths present and do not overlap exactly, hence coloured fringes

* Inner fringes are tinged with blue on the inside and red on the outside

Page 21: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Experimental observations from the double slit cont’d

iii) Fringes obtained using slits 0.5 mm apart drawn with different widths

(a) (b)

(a) thin slits

Page 22: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Experimental observations from the double slit cont’d

iii) Fringes obtained using slits 0.5 mm apart drawn with different widths

(a) (b)

(a) thin slits

The double slit interference pattern is modulated

by the single slit pattern

Page 23: Diffraction at a single slit

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

Experimental observations from the double slit cont’d

iii) Fringes obtained using slits 0.5 mm apart drawn with different widths

(a) (b)

(a) thin slits (b) thick slits

The double slit interference pattern is modulated

by the single slit pattern

Missing fringes