Chapter 11.4, Problem 1aT

Red light from a distant point source is incident on a mask with ten identical, evenly-spaced, very narrow slits. (See diagrams at right and below.)

On the magnified view below, label the line segment of length that represent how much farther light must travel from slit 1 than from slit 2 reach point X on a distant screen.

What is the smallest value of $\Delta D_{\text{adj}}$ that corresponds to a minimum for 10 slits? (Transparencies of since curves are available in case you would like to review these concepts.)

The minimum that corresponds to this smallest value of $\Delta D_{\text{adj}}$ is called the first minimum.