Relation between slit width and wavelength in diffraction
Answers
In short, the angle of diffraction is directly proportional to the size of the wavelength. Hence red light (long wavelength) diffracts more than blue light (short wavelength). And radio waves (really long wavelength) diffract more than X-rays (really short wavelengths). Single slit diffraction when a wave passes through an aperture with width smaller than the wavelength (d<λ). For a significant amplitude of the wave to pass through, the aperture must be close to the size of the wavelength. Diffraction pattern for a single slit of width larger than the wavelength (d>λ). Most of the light is concentrated in the broad CENTRAL DIFFRACTION MAXIMUM note that the width of the central diffraction maximum is inversely proportional to the width of the slit. If we increase the width size, a, the angle T at which the intensity first becomes zero decreases, resulting in a narrower central band. When the gap size is larger than the wavelength, the wave passes through the gap and does not spread out much on the other side. When the gap size is equal to the wavelength, maximum diffraction occurs and the waves spread out greatly - the wavefronts are almost semicircular.