Single-slit diffraction — UPSC Physics Optional IFoS 2018 Paper I

(i) When a monochromatic light passes through a single slit, dark and bright fringes are observed on a screen kept far away from the slit. Draw an amplitude and intensity pattern of the light on the screen.

(ii) Write an expression for intensity distribution and give the conditions for bright and dark fringes.

(iii) If the slit width is 0\cdot 3\text{ mm} and the distance between the screen and the slit is about 30\text{ cm}, then what is the angle of diffraction for the first minimum? (\lambda = 5 \times 10^{-5}\text{ cm})