The fringes are the result of
A) diffraction from a single slit.
B) interference from a double slit in addition to diffraction from the two slits.
C) interference from three slits.
D) diffraction from three slits.
E) None of these is correct.

Question

The fringes are the result of
A) diffraction from a single slit. 
B) interference from a double slit in addition to diffraction from the two slits. 
C) interference from three slits. 
D) diffraction from three slits. 
E) None of these is correct.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of fringes indicates interference, which is a result of the double slit setup. The diffraction from the two slits is also a contributing factor to the overall pattern observed. Option A is incorrect because diffraction from a single slit would produce a different pattern, with a central maximum and alternating dark and bright fringes on either side. Option C is incorrect because interference from three slits would produce a different pattern as well, with more bright fringes but also more dark fringes. Option D is incorrect because diffraction from three slits would also produce a different pattern with more fringes than observed. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

The Fringes Are the Result of