The distance between the first and fifth minima of a singleslit diffraction pattern is 0.35 mm with the screen 40 cm away from the slit, when light of wavelength 550 nm is used. (a) Find the slit width. (b) Calculate the angle u of the first diffraction minimum.
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Question
Floaters. The floaters you see when viewing a bright, featureless background are diffraction patterns of defects in the vitreous humor that fills most of your eye. Sighting through a pinhole sharpens the diffraction pattern. If you also view a small circular dot, you can approximate the defects size. Assume that the defect diffracts light as a circular aperture does. Adjust the dots distance L from your eye (or eye lens) until the dot and the circle of the first minimum in the diffraction pattern appear to have the same size in your view. That is, until they have the same diameter D# on the retina at distance L# ! 2.0 cm from the front of the eye, as suggested in Fig. 36-42a, where the angles on the two sides of the eye lens are equal. Assume that the wavelength of visible light is l ! 550 nm. If the dot has diameter D ! 2.0 mm and is distance L 45.0 cm from the eye and the defect is x 6.0 mm in front of the retina (Fig. 36-42b), what is the diameter of the defect? ! ! (a) (b) D' D' D Eye Circular lens dot Retina Retina L L' x Defect __1 2 D' __1 2 Figure 36-42 30
Solution
The first step in solving 36 problem number 30 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Floaters. The floaters you see when viewing a bright, featureless background are diffraction patterns of defects in the vitreous humor that fills most of your eye. Sighting through a pinhole sharpens the diffraction pattern. If you also view a small circular dot, you can approximate the defects size. Assume that the defect diffracts light as a circular aperture does. Adjust the dots distance L from your eye (or eye lens) until the dot and the circle of the first minimum in the diffraction pattern appear to have the same size in your view. That is, until they have the same diameter D# on the retina at distance L# ! 2.0 cm from the front of the eye, as suggested in Fig. 36-42a, where the angles on the two sides of the eye lens are equal. Assume that the wavelength of visible light is l ! 550 nm. If the dot has diameter D ! 2.0 mm and is distance L 45.0 cm from the eye and the defect is x 6.0 mm in front of the retina (Fig. 36-42b), what is the diameter of the defect? ! ! (a) (b) D' D' D Eye Circular lens dot Retina Retina L L' x Defect __1 2 D' __1 2 Figure 36-42 30
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