Question

Explain the phenomenon of diffraction of light at a single slit, to show the formation of diffraction fringes. Show graphically the variation of the intensity, with angle, in this single slit diffraction pattern. What is meant by the term 'angular resolution of a telescope?

Answer 1

The answers to the given questions are as follows:

1. The phenomena of the single-slit diffraction is that when light passes through a single slit then the bending phenomenon of light or diffraction takes place that causes light from a coherent source to interfere with itself and produce a distinctive pattern on the screen called the diffraction pattern.

2. The graphical representation of the variation of the intensity is attached below.

3. The angular resolving power (or resolution) of a telescope can be defined as the smallest angle between close objects that can be seen clearly to be separate.