Light shines through a single slit whose width is 5.8 × 104 m. A diffraction pattern is formed on a flat screen located 4.0 m away. The distance between the middle of the central bright fringe and the first dark fringe is 3.9 mm. What is the wavelength of the light?

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**Diffraction Through a Single Slit**

When light passes through a single slit, a diffraction pattern is produced on a screen. This phenomenon occurs due to the wave nature of light.

### Problem Description

- **Slit Width**: \( 5.8 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{m} \)
- **Screen Distance**: 4.0 m away from the slit
- **Fringe Distance**: The distance between the middle of the central bright fringe and the first dark fringe is 3.9 mm

**Question**: What is the wavelength of the light?

### Formula

To find the wavelength (\(\lambda\)), we use the formula for the position of the first dark fringe in single slit diffraction:

\[ 
\lambda = \frac{a \cdot y_1}{L}
\]

Where:
- \( a \) = slit width
- \( y_1 \) = distance from the center to the first dark fringe
- \( L \) = distance from the slit to the screen

### Solution Steps

1. Convert \( y_1 \) from mm to meters:

   \[
   y_1 = 3.9 \, \text{mm} = 3.9 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{m}
   \]

2. Substitute the given values into the formula:

   \[ 
   \lambda = \frac{(5.8 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{m}) \cdot (3.9 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{m})}{4.0 \, \text{m}}
   \]

3. Calculate \(\lambda\).

This setup demonstrates the principle of single slit diffraction and allows calculation of the wavelength, an important characteristic of light.
Transcribed Image Text:**Diffraction Through a Single Slit** When light passes through a single slit, a diffraction pattern is produced on a screen. This phenomenon occurs due to the wave nature of light. ### Problem Description - **Slit Width**: \( 5.8 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{m} \) - **Screen Distance**: 4.0 m away from the slit - **Fringe Distance**: The distance between the middle of the central bright fringe and the first dark fringe is 3.9 mm **Question**: What is the wavelength of the light? ### Formula To find the wavelength (\(\lambda\)), we use the formula for the position of the first dark fringe in single slit diffraction: \[ \lambda = \frac{a \cdot y_1}{L} \] Where: - \( a \) = slit width - \( y_1 \) = distance from the center to the first dark fringe - \( L \) = distance from the slit to the screen ### Solution Steps 1. Convert \( y_1 \) from mm to meters: \[ y_1 = 3.9 \, \text{mm} = 3.9 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{m} \] 2. Substitute the given values into the formula: \[ \lambda = \frac{(5.8 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{m}) \cdot (3.9 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{m})}{4.0 \, \text{m}} \] 3. Calculate \(\lambda\). This setup demonstrates the principle of single slit diffraction and allows calculation of the wavelength, an important characteristic of light.
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