In a single slit diffraction experiment, first minimum for red light (660 nm) coincides with first maximum of some other wavelength $λ'$. The value of $λ'$ is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
Here, $λ_r = 660 nm ; λ' = ?$
For diffraction minima,
$a \sin θ = nλ, \sin θ =\frac{nλ}{a}$
For first minima of red,
$\sin θ=\frac{(1)λ_r}{a}$
For diffraction maxima
$a \sin θ = (2n + 1)\frac{λ}{2}$
∴ For first maxima of $λ'$
$a \sin θ' =\frac{3λ'}{2};\sin θ' =\frac{3λ'}{2a}$
As the two coincide, therefore,
$sin θ' = sin θ$
$\frac{3λ'}{2a}=\frac{λ_r}{a}$
or $λ' = \frac{2}{3}λ_r$
or $λ' = \frac{2}{3}(660) 440nm$