Chapter 17.6- Circular Aperture diffraction

Question 1

What happens to light waves that go though a circular aperture?

Answer 1

They spread out to generate a circular diffraction pattern

Question 2

Where is most of the intensity contained in a circular aperture diffraction?

Answer 2

In the circular central maxima, which is surrounded by a series of secondary bright fringes

Question 3

What does angle theta 1 tell us here

Answer 3

It locates the first minimum in the intensity for a circular aperture with diameter D

Question 4

How does the diameter of the diffraction pattern increase for circular aperture diffractions?

Answer 4

It increases with L (because the wave spreads out as it travels)

Question 5

How does the diameter of the diffraction pattern decrease for circular aperture diffractions?

Answer 5

By increasing D