leolaw said:Given a wavelength length [tex]\alpha[/tex], what is the maximum Width (D) of a single slit, which would have no diffraction minima?
It seems like a proof problem to me and I am trying to get a head start.
should I use [tex] D * sin (\theta) = m \alpha[/tex] ?
leolaw said:that sin of zero degrees is 0
The wave-particle duality of light is the concept that light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like behavior. This means that light can act as a wave with properties such as interference and diffraction, but also as a particle with properties such as energy and momentum.
A wave is an oscillation that carries energy through a medium, while a particle is a localized unit of matter with mass and other properties. In the case of light, it can behave as a wave or a particle depending on the experimental setup.
The wave nature of light explains diffraction and interference by treating light as an electromagnetic wave. When light passes through a narrow slit or encounters an obstacle, it diffracts, or bends, around the edges. This results in an interference pattern, where the diffracted waves interact and produce areas of constructive and destructive interference.
Yes, light can exhibit both wave and particle behavior at the same time, but the two aspects cannot be observed simultaneously. This is known as the wave-particle duality and is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.
The wave nature of light affects its speed by determining the refractive index of a medium. The refractive index is a measure of how much light is slowed down when it passes through a material. Light travels fastest in a vacuum where it behaves purely as a wave, but its speed decreases when it passes through materials due to interactions with particles in the medium.