MCQ
At the first minimum adjacent to the central maximum of a single-slit diffraction pattern, the phase difference between the Huygen's wavelet from the edge of the slit and the wavelet from the midpoint of the slit is 
  • A
    $\frac{\pi }{8}rad$
  • B
    $\;\frac{\pi }{4}rad$
  • C
    $\;\frac{\pi }{2}rad$
  • $\pi $ $rad$

Answer

Correct option: D.
$\pi $ $rad$
d
The situation is shown in the figure.

In figure $A$ and $B$ represent the edges of the slit $AB$ of width $a$ and $C$ represents the midpoint of the slit. For the first minimum at $P$,

$a \sin \theta=\lambda$   ...... $(i)$

where $\lambda$ is the wavelength of light. The path difference between the wavelets from $A$ to $C$ is

$\Delta x=\frac{a}{2} \sin \theta=\frac{1}{2}(a \sin \theta)=\frac{\lambda}{2}$   (using $(i)$)

The corresponding phase difference $\Delta \phi$ is

$\Delta \phi=\frac{2 \pi}{\lambda} \Delta x=\frac{2 \pi}{\lambda} \times \frac{\lambda}{2}=\pi$

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