Although we have discussed single-slit diffraction only for a slit, a similar result holds when light bends around a straight, thin object, such as a strand of hair. In that case, a is the width of the strand. From actual lab measurements on a human hair, it was found that when a beam of light of wavelength 632.8nm was shone on a single strand of hair, and the diffracted light was viewed on a screen 1.25m away, the first dark fringes on either side of the central bright spot were 5.22cm apart. How thick was this strand of hair?

Although we have discussed single-slit diffraction only for a slit, a similar result holds when light bends around a straight, thin object, such as a strand of hair. In that case, a is the width of the strand. From actual lab measurements on a human hair, it was found that when a beam of light of wavelength 632.8nm was shone on a single strand of hair, and the diffracted light was viewed on a screen 1.25m away, the first dark fringes on either side of the central bright spot were 5.22cm apart. How thick was this strand of hair?

University Physics Volume 3

17th Edition

ISBN:9781938168185

Author:William Moebs, Jeff Sanny

Publisher:William Moebs, Jeff Sanny

Chapter4: Diffraction

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 53P: The analysis shown below also applies to diffraction gratings with lines separated by a distance d....

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