In a single slit diffraction pattern, a light of wavelength 6000 AA$6000\text{ \AA}$ is used. The distance between the first and third minima in the diffraction pattern is found to be 3 mm$3\text{ mm}$ when the screen is placed 50 cm$50\text{ cm}$ away from slits. The width of the slit is x × 10⁻⁴ m$x \times 10^{-4}\text{ m}$. The value of x$x$ is:
Numerical Answer Type:
Enter a numerical valueAnswer: 2 to 2+4 marks
Solution & Explanation
Related Formula
For single slit diffraction, the position of the n$n$-th minima on the screen is given by:
Comparing this with x × 10⁻⁴ m$x \times 10^{-4}\text{ m}$, we get:
x = 2$x = 2$
Diagram of single slit diffraction minima positions for Q57
Pattern Recognition
Distance between n$n$-th and m$m$-th minima is Δ y = (n-m)(λ D)/(b)$\Delta y = (n-m)\frac{\lambda D}{b}$. Since 3-1 = 2$3-1 = 2$, we get Δ y = 2(λ D)/(b)$\Delta y = 2\frac{\lambda D}{b}$. Substitute and scale variables directly.
Keywords:#distance between the first and third minima#JEE Main 2024 Evening Q57#Wave Optics JEE Main 2024#Diffraction Minima JEE Main 2024
More Wave Optics Previous-Year Questions — Page 2
Q49jee_main_2026_23_january_morningInterference of Light Waves and Young's Experiment
In two separate Young's double-slit experimental set-ups, two monochromatic light sources of different wavelengths are used to get fringes of equal width. The ratios of the slit separations and that of the wavelengths of light used are 2:1 and 1:2 respectively. The corresponding ratio of the distances between the slits and the respective screens (D₁ / D₂$D_{1} / D_{2}$) is ____.
Numerical Answer.Answer: 4 to 4
Solution
Related Formula
β = (λ D)/(d)$$\beta = \frac{\lambda D}{d}$$
Core Logic
For fringes of equal width, β₁ = β₂$\beta_{1} = \beta_{2}$. We equate the fringe width expression for both setups and isolate the ratio of the screen distances D₁/D₂$D_{1}/D_{2}$.
Sees: "fringes of equal width" + "multiple ratios" → Immediately construct a multi-variable proportionality equality D₁D₂ = β₁ d₁ λ₂β₂ d₂ λ₁$\frac{D_{1}}{D_{2}} = \frac{\beta_{1} d_{1} \lambda_{2}}{\beta_{2} d_{2} \lambda_{1}}$ and cancel the constant terms.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics
Q44jee_main_2026_23_january_eveningPolarization and Brewster's Law
When an unpolarized light falls at a particular angle on a glass plate (placed in air), it is observed that the reflected beam is linearly polarized. The angle of refracted beam with respect to the normal is ____. ( ⁻¹$\tan^{-1}$ (1.52) = 57.7°, refractive indices of air and glass are 1.00 and 1.52, respectively)
Polarization and Brewster's Law diagram for Q44 - JEE Main 2026 Evening
Linearly polarized reflected light implies the light was incident at Brewster's angle iₚ$i_p$. At Brewster's angle, the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other (iₚ + r = 90°$i_p + r = 90^{\circ}$).
Brewster's angle immediately triggers the relationship r = 90° - i$r = 90^{\circ} - i$. No complex Snell's law calculation is needed if the Brewster condition is identified from "reflected beam is linearly polarized".
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics
Q42jee_main_2026_24_january_morningPolarization
An unpolarised light is incident at an interface of two dielectric media having refractive indices of 2 (incident medium) and 2√(3)$2\sqrt{3}$ (medium) respectively. To satisfy the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, the angle of incidence is ____.
For the reflected and refracted rays to be mutually perpendicular, the angle of incidence must equal Brewster's angle, θₚ$\theta_p$.
Using Brewster's law:
In the Young's double slit experiment the intensity produced by each one of the individual slits is I₀$I_0$ . The distance between two slits is 2 mm. The distance of screen from slits is 10 m. The wavelength of light is 6000 Å. The intensity of light on the screen in front of one of the slits is _.
where path difference phase Δ φ = (2π)/(λ) · Δ x = (2π)/(λ) · (yd)/(D)$\Delta \phi = \frac{2\pi}{\lambda} \cdot \Delta x = \frac{2\pi}{\lambda} \cdot \frac{yd}{D}$
Core Logic
Given values:
d = 2 mm = 2 × 10⁻³ m$d = 2 \text{ mm} = 2 \times 10^{-3} \text{ m}$D = 10 m$D = 10 \text{ m}$λ = 6000 AA = 6 × 10⁻⁷ m$\lambda = 6000 \text{ \AA} = 6 \times 10^{-7} \text{ m}$
Position y = (d)/(2)$y = \frac{d}{2}$ (since it is directly in front of one of the slits).
Given below are two statements :
Statement-I : A plane wave after passing through prism remains as plane wave but passing through small pin hole may become spherical wave.
Statement-II : The curvature of a spherical wave emerging from a slit will increase for increasing slit width.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.
A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are false.$\text{Both Statement-I and Statement-II are false.}$
B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true.$\text{Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true.}$
C.Statement-I is true but Statement-II is false.$\text{Statement-I is true but Statement-II is false.}$
D.Statement-I is false but Statement-II is true.$\text{Statement-I is false but Statement-II is true.}$
Statement-I is correct because a prism changes the direction of a plane wave without changing its planar wavefront nature, whereas a small pinhole acts as a point source (Huygens' principle), generating spherical wavefronts.
Statement-II is incorrect. Increasing the slit width a$a$ decreases the diffraction angle θ$\theta$ and reduces the spreading of the wave. A narrower slit produces a more pronounced spherical wave (high curvature) while a wider slit leads to a flatter, less curved (more planar) wave.
Step 1: Final Conclusion
Therefore, Statement I is true, and Statement II is false.
Pattern Recognition
Curvature of a wavefront coming out of an aperture is inversely related to aperture size relative to wavelength. Small aperture = high diffraction = highly curved spherical wave.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics
More Wave Optics Questions — jee_main_2024_29_january_evening
Practice past-year questions one chapter at a time. Pick an exam → subject → chapter and get every PYQ for that topic — pulled together from all past papers — with the chapter's key formulas alongside.