Question 1

In a single slit diffraction pattern the intensity of the maxima
A)are all the same.
B)increase with the sine of the angle from the central maximum.
C)decrease with the sine of the angle from the central maximum.
D)are proportional to the square of the sine of the angle from the central maximum.
E)depend upon the wavelength, the slit width, and the angle from the central maximum.

Accepted Answer

The intensity of the maxima in a single slit diffraction pattern depends upon the wavelength, the slit width, and the angle from the central maximum.

Question 2

In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the first minimum in the diffraction pattern occurs at an angle given by sinθ = 2λ/W.

Accepted Answer

In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the first minimum occurs at an angle given by sinθ = λ/W, where λ is the wavelength of light and W is the width of the slit.

Question 3

Placing the Hubble Space Telescope in space gives better resolution because it is
A)above the atmosphere which distorts images.
B)in circular orbit where there is no spherical aberration.
C)in elliptical orbit where there is no spherical aberration.
D)larger than the largest ground-based telescopes.
E)free from gravity-produced optical flaws.

Accepted Answer

The Hubble Space Telescope is above Earth's atmosphere, which distorts and absorbs some of the light from space, allowing it to capture clearer and more detailed images.

Question 4

If the diameter of a radar dish is doubled, what happens to its resolving power assuming that all other factors remain unchanged? Its resolving power
A)quadruples.
B)doubles.
C)halves.
D)is reduced to one-quarter its original value.
E)is reduced to one-half its original value.

Accepted Answer

The resolving power of a radar dish is directly proportional to its diameter. Therefore, if the diameter is doubled, the resolving power also doubles.

Question 5

State the Rayleigh criterion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of State the Rayleigh criterion....

Question 6

If the first maximum of one circular diffraction pattern passes through the center of a second diffraction pattern, the two sources responsible for the pattern will appear to be a single source.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the first maximum of one circular...

Question 7

A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on a distant screen. Assuming the angles involved are small, by what factor will the width of the central bright spot on the screen change if the distance from the slit to the screen is doubled?
A)It will be cut to one-quarter its original size.
B)It will be cut in half.
C)It will double.
D)It will become four times as large.
E)It will become eight times as large.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on...

Question 8

In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the central maximum is broadened if the wavelength of light is increased.

Accepted Answer

Increasing the wavelength of light in a single-slit diffraction experiment causes the diffraction pattern to spread out more, resulting in a broader central maximum.

Question 9

If the lens diameter is doubled, what happens to the resolvable angle of images produced at fixed wavelength?
A)The angle decreases by a factor of two.
B)The angle increases by a factor of two.
C)The angle decreases by a factor of four.
D)The angle increases by a factor of four.
E)The angle stays the same.

Accepted Answer

The resolvable angle is inversely proportional to the diameter of the lens. Doubling the diameter decreases the angle by a factor of two.

Question 10

If in a single slit diffraction experiment the wavelength is increased, which of the following happens to the diffraction pattern?
A)The central maximum broadens.
B)The minima remain the same.
C)Eventually you get double slit interference.
D)The central maximum narrows.
E)The minima get closer together.

Accepted Answer

Increasing the wavelength in a single slit diffraction experiment causes the central maximum to broaden because the angle at which the first minimum occurs is directly proportional to the wavelength.

Question 11

The resolving power of a microscope refers to the ability to
A)distinguish objects of different colors.
B)form clear images of two points that are very close together.
C)form a very small image.
D)form a very large image.
E)form a very bright image.

Accepted Answer

The resolving power of a microscope is its ability to distinguish two points that are very close together as separate entities, which is crucial for observing fine details in a specimen.

Question 12

What principle is responsible for light spreading as it passes through a narrow slit?
A)refraction
B)reflection
C)polarization
D)diffraction
E)interference

Accepted Answer

Diffraction is the principle responsible for light spreading as it passes through a narrow slit.

Question 13

A lens is designed to work in the visible, near-infrared, and near-ultraviolet. The best resolution of this lens from a diffraction standpoint is
A)equal for all wavelengths.
B)in the near-ultraviolet.
C)in the visible.
D)in the near-infrared.
E)indeterminate.

Accepted Answer

The best resolution from a diffraction standpoint is achieved at shorter wavelengths. Since the near-ultraviolet has the shortest wavelength among the given options, it provides the best resolution.

Question 14

A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on a distant screen. Assuming the angles involved are small, by what factor will the width of the central bright spot on the screen change if the wavelength is doubled?
A)It will be cut to one-quarter its original size.
B)It will be cut in half.
C)It will double.
D)It will become four times as large.
E)It will become eight times as large.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on...

Question 15

In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit through which light passes is reduced. What happens to the central bright fringe?
A)It stays the same.
B)It becomes narrower.
C)It becomes wider.
D)We must know the wavelength of the light to answer.
E)We must know the distance from the slit to the screen to answer.

Accepted Answer

Reducing the slit width increases the angle of diffraction, causing the central bright fringe to become wider.

Question 16

Consider two diffraction gratings; one has 4000 lines per cm and the other one has 6000 lines per cm. Make a statement comparing the dispersion of the two gratings.
A)The 4000-line grating produces the greater dispersion.
B)The 6000-line grating produces the greater dispersion.
C)Both gratings produce the same dispersion, but the orders are sharper for the 4000-line grating.
D)Both gratings produce the same dispersion, but the orders are sharper for the 6000-line grating.

Accepted Answer

The dispersion of a grating is directly proportional to the number of lines per unit length. Therefore, the 6000-line grating produces greater dispersion than the 4000-line grating.

Question 17

A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on a distant screen. Assuming the angles involved are small, by what factor will the width of the central bright spot on the screen change if the slit width is doubled?
A)It will be cut to one-quarter its original size.
B)It will be cut in half.
C)It will double.
D)It will become four times as large.
E)It will become eight times as large.

Accepted Answer

The width of the central bright spot is directly proportional to the width of the slit. If the slit width is doubled, the central bright spot width will be halved. This can be seen from the equation for the single-slit diffraction pattern: d sin(theta) = m lambda, where d is the slit width, theta is the angle from the center of the pattern, m is the order of the bright spot, and lambda is the wavelength of light. When d is doubled, sin(theta) must be halved to maintain the same value of m lambda, which means that theta is also halved. Since the width of the central bright spot is proportional to theta, it will also be halved.

Question 18

It is not possible to resolve detail of objects smaller than the wavelength of the radiation being used.

Accepted Answer

According to the diffraction limit, the resolution of an imaging system is limited by the wavelength of the radiation used; objects smaller than the wavelength cannot be resolved.

Question 19

Using the Rayleigh criterion, one concludes that using fixed wavelength light that it is not possible to resolve details less than about
A)0.5 wavelength.
B)0.1 wavelength.
C)one wavelength.
D)10 wavelengths.
E)122 wavelengths.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using the Rayleigh criterion, one concludes that...

Question 20

An important reason for using a very large diameter objective in an astronomical telescope is
A)to increase the magnification.
B)to increase the resolution.
C)to form a virtual image, which is easier to look at.
D)to increase the width of the field of view.
E)to increase the depth of the field of view.

Accepted Answer

A larger diameter objective allows the telescope to gather more light, which improves the resolution and allows for clearer and more detailed images of distant celestial objects.

Quiz 35: Diffraction and Polarization

In a single slit diffraction pattern the intensity of the maxima

In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the first minimum in the diffraction pattern occurs at an angle given by sinθ = 2λ/W.

Placing the Hubble Space Telescope in space gives better resolution because it is

If the diameter of a radar dish is doubled, what happens to its resolving power assuming that all other factors remain unchanged? Its resolving power

State the Rayleigh criterion.

If the first maximum of one circular diffraction pattern passes through the center of a second diffraction pattern, the two sources responsible for the pattern will appear to be a single source.

A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on a distant screen. Assuming the angles involved are small, by what factor will the width of the central bright spot on the screen change if the distance from the slit to the screen is doubled?

In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the central maximum is broadened if the wavelength of light is increased.

If the lens diameter is doubled, what happens to the resolvable angle of images produced at fixed wavelength?

If in a single slit diffraction experiment the wavelength is increased, which of the following happens to the diffraction pattern?

The resolving power of a microscope refers to the ability to

What principle is responsible for light spreading as it passes through a narrow slit?

A lens is designed to work in the visible, near-infrared, and near-ultraviolet. The best resolution of this lens from a diffraction standpoint is

A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on a distant screen. Assuming the angles involved are small, by what factor will the width of the central bright spot on the screen change if the wavelength is doubled?

In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit through which light passes is reduced. What happens to the central bright fringe?

Consider two diffraction gratings; one has 4000 lines per cm and the other one has 6000 lines per cm. Make a statement comparing the dispersion of the two gratings.

A single-slit diffraction pattern is formed on a distant screen. Assuming the angles involved are small, by what factor will the width of the central bright spot on the screen change if the slit width is doubled?

It is not possible to resolve detail of objects smaller than the wavelength of the radiation being used.

Using the Rayleigh criterion, one concludes that using fixed wavelength light that it is not possible to resolve details less than about

An important reason for using a very large diameter objective in an astronomical telescope is