1. This question is about single slit diffraction.

The diagram below shows an experimental arrangement for observing Fraunhofer

diffraction by a single slit. After passing through the convex lens L1, monochromatic light
from a point source P is incident on a narrow, rectangular single slit. After passing through
the slit the light is brought to a focus on the screen by the lens L2. The point source P is
at the focal point of the lens L1.

X
P

L1 L2

single slit screen

The point X on the screen is directly opposite the central point of the slit.
(a) Explain qualitatively how Huygens’ principle accounts for the phenomenon of single slit
diffraction.
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(2)
(b) Using the axes below draw a graph to show how the intensity of the pattern varies
with distance along the screen. The point X on the screen is shown as a reference
point. (This is a sketch graph; you do not need to add any numerical values.)
(3)
intensity

X
distance along screen

(c) In this experiment the light has a wavelength of 500 nm and the width of the central
maximum of intensity on the screen is 10.0 mm. When light of unknown wavelength λ is used, the
width of the central maximum of intensity is 13.0 mm. Determine the value of λ.
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(2)
 The lens L1 is now removed and another point source Q emitting light of the same
wavelength as P (500 nm) is placed 5.0 mm from P and the two sources are arranged as
shown below.

1.50 m
5.0 mm b
Q

Single slit
The distance between the sources and the slit is 1.50 m.
(d) (i) State the condition for the image of P and the image of Q formed on the screen
to be just resolved.
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(1)
(ii) Determine the minimum width b of the slit for the two images to be just
resolved.
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(2)
(Total 10 marks)
2. This question is about optical resolution.
(a) Light from a point source is brought to a focus by a convex lens. The lens does not
cause spherical or chromatic aberration.
(i) State why the image of the point source will not be a point image.
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(1)
(ii) Describe the appearance of the image.
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(2)
Two light receptors at the back of the eye are 4.0 μm apart. The distance of the
receptors from the convex lens at the front of the eye is 17.0 mm, as shown below.
 eye lens
light receptor

 4.0 m

17.0 mm
Light of wavelength 550 nm from two point objects enters the eye. The centres of the
images of the two objects are focused on the light receptors.
(b) (i) Calculate the angle α in radians subtended by the two receptors at the centre of
the eye lens.
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(2)
(ii) Use the Rayleigh criterion to calculate the diameter of the pupil of the eye so
that the two images are just resolved.
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(2)
(Total 7 marks)
3. This question is about resolution.
(a) State the Rayleigh criterion for the images of two point sources to be just resolved.
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(2)
A man is walking along a straight path at night towards two light sources as shown below.

light
sources

path man
not drawn to scale
When the man is 150 m from the sources, the images of the two sources are just resolved
by his eye. The wavelength of the light from each source is 590 nm and the diameter of
the aperture of his eye is 5.0 mm.
(b) Estimate the distance between the two sources.
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(3)
(Total 5 marks)
4. This question is about the Rayleigh criterion.
 (a) Light from two monochromatic distant point sources, S1 and S2, is incident on a
narrow slit. After passing through the slit, the light is incident on a screen.

S1

S2 slit
screen

On the axes below, draw the intensity distribution of the diffracted light on the
screen from each source when the images of S1 and S2 are just resolved according to
the Rayleigh criterion.
intensity

position
(3)
(b) A woman views an approaching car at night. The apertures of her eyes are each of
diameter 3.0 mm. The headlamps of the car are separated by a distance of 1.2 m and
emit light of wavelength 400 nm.
Calculate the distance of the car from the woman at which the images of the two
headlamps are just resolved.
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(3)
(Total 6 marks)
5. This question is about resolution.
Monochromatic light from two identical point sources is incident on a narrow slit as shown
below (not to scale). After passing through the slit, the light is brought to a focus on a
screen.

point sources

slit screen
The images of the two sources on the screen are just resolved according to the Rayleigh
 criterion.
The diagram below shows the intensity distribution on the screen of the light from one of
the point sources.
intensity / arbitrary units

distance along screen / arbitrary units

(a) On the diagram above, draw the intensity distribution on the screen of the light due
to the second source.
(2)
(b) The planet Pluto is 4.5 1012 m from Earth and the diameter of Pluto is 2.3 106 m.
The average wavelength of the light received by the Earth from Pluto is 500 nm.
Deduce, whether the human eye should be able to see Pluto as a disc or only as a point
source of light.
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(3)
(Total 5 marks)
6. This question is about diffraction and resolution.
Blue light of wavelength 450 nm from a star passes through a telescope with a circular
aperture of 0.25 m and forms an image on a photographic plate 0.75 m from the focussing
lens.
(a) (i) In the space provided below, draw a labelled sketch to show the diffraction
fringe pattern produced on the photographic plate.

(2)
(ii) Calculate the diameter of the central maximum on the photographic plate.
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(2)
 (b) The telescope in (a) is now pointed at two stars.
The maximum separation of the stars is d and they are both 1.5 1017 m from the
telescope.
(i) Determine the separation d of the stars such that the images of the stars are
just resolved in light of wavelength 450 nm.
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(3)
d
(ii) Over a period of time the separation of the stars varies from to 2d.
2
Describe and explain the changes to the image produced by the telescope during
this time. You should include diagrams to illustrate your answer.

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(3)
(Total 10 marks)
7. This question is about diffraction.
Monochromatic light is incident on a single slit of width 1.2×10–4 m.

Diagram
incident light not to scale
θ
1.2 ×10–4 m

screen

The graph shows the variation with angle of the intensity of the light on the screen.
 relative
intensity
1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
θ /×10 –3rad
–6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
(a) Use the graph to estimate the wavelength of the light.
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(1)
(b) Monochromatic light is incident on two parallel slits. After passing through the slits,
the light is incident on a screen. The separation of the slits is approximately twice
the slit width. On the axes above draw a graph to show the intensity distribution of
the light on the screen.
(2)
(Total 3 marks)
8. This question is about single-slit diffraction.
(a) Explain, by reference to secondary wavelets, the diffraction of light at a single slit.
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(2)
(b) Light from a helium-neon laser passes through a narrow slit and is incident on a
screen 2.4 m distance from the slit. The graph below shows the variation with
intensity I of the light on the screen of distance x along the screen.
I

–10 –5 0 5 10
x /mm
 (i) The wavelength of the light emitted by the laser is 630 nm. Use data from the
graph above to determine the width of the slit.
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(3)
(ii) State two changes to the intensity distribution of the central maximum when
the single slit is replaced by one of greater width.
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2. ........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)
MARKS
1. (a) each point on the slit acts as a source of secondary waves;
it is the interference between these waves that produces the maxima
and minima;
OWTTE; 2 max
(b)
intensity

X
distance along screen

central maximum around X;

correct overall shape (only two secondary maxima need be shown);
secondary maxima much less intense than the central maximum; 3
Accept anything less than half the principle maximum.
d1 1 f
(c) show  from d = ;
d 2 2 b
6.5  500
substitute to get λ = = 650 nm; 2
5
(d) (i) the first minimum of one image should coincide with the first
maximum of the other image;
OWTTE; 1 max
 d
(ii) use  ;
b D
to give b = 0.15 mm; 2
[10]
2. (a) (i) diffraction at the lens; 1
(ii) circular patch – bright;
circular bright ring / darkness between patch and ring; 2
4.0  10 6
(b) (i) = ;
17  10 3
= 2.4 × 10–4 rad; 2
 1.22  550  10 9
(ii) 1.22 = 2.4 ×10–4 therefore d = ;
d 2.4  10 4
d = 2.8 mm; 2
Award [2] even if factor 1.22 is missing. [7]
3. (a) Award [2] for a clear statement or [2] for a clear diagram.
the maximum of one diffraction pattern is coincident with the first
minimum of the other;
or:

2
λ
(b) θ min  1.22
d
s
(with small angle approximation), θ  ;
150 m

λ 590 10 9
equate θ 1.22 1.22 ;
D 5.0 10 3
to get s = 2.2 cm; 3
Award [2 max] if 1.22 factor is omitted.
[5]
4. (a) shape of diffraction pattern acceptable;
central maximum of one pattern falls on first minimum of other;
relative heights of central and first maxima realistic for both patterns; 3

(b) θ 
1.22 λ 1.22  400 10 9
d

0.003
 
1.63 10  4 rad ;

 head lamp separation  12

 woman  car distance   4
;
 tan θ  1.6 10
= 7.5km; 3 [6]
5. (a)

maxima to coincide with minima and minimum at maximum of first source;

minima to touch x-axis and intensity of maxima to equal intensity of maximum
of first source; 2
Only one maximum and minimum need be shown.
2.3 10 6
(b) angle subtended at eye =  5.110 7 rad;
4.5 1012

λ 1.22  5 10 7
= 1.22 to give b  1.2 m ;
b 5.110 7

Do not penalize if 1.22 not used (1.0 m).

some comment to the effect that this much larger than the diameter of the
pupil so that Pluto cannot be resolved as a disk / is a point source; 3
Accept an answer based on a reasonable estimate for pupil diameter and
therefore, shows that Pluto would have to be much nearer to be resolved.
6. (a) (i) circular pattern light and dark markings clearly  Minimum is centre

labelled; with 2 fringes outside it.
bright centre to pattern clearly labelled;

2
Award [1 max] for an intensity-position graph if it has a central
maximum and is clearly a diffraction pattern (must see central
maximum, first minimum, first maximum at least) and award
[2 max] if there is a mention of circular symmetry.

1.22 λ 1.22  450 10 9  Do not award if

(ii) sin θ    2.2 10 6 ; 
d 0.25 1.22 factor missing

diameter = 2 0.75 sin (or tan) = 3.3 10 6 m; 2

  1.22  4.5 10 7   Allow ECF if 1.22
(b) (i) resolution of telescope =    2.2 10 6 ;
 
 0.25  is missing in (a)(ii ).

d = 2.2 10 6 1.5 1017;

= 3.3 1011m; 3
(ii)
separation 2d shows definite dip between maxima;  Award thesetwo marking points
d
separation shows small or no dip; 
2  for wordsor diagram.
general shapes of curves good showing 2  minima,
 Award this marking point
asymmetric higher - order maxima, reducing heights 
of maxima; on the basis ofa diagram.

3
[10]

7. (a) first diffraction minimum at = 4.25 × 10–3 rad

b = 1.2 × 10–4 × 4.25 × 10–3 = 5.1 × 10–7 m; 1
Accept answers in the range 5.0 × 10–7 m to 5.2 × 10–7 m.

(b) central maximum (of any height) and width less than that of the single slit
central maximum:
one secondary maximum (at approximately 2.1 × 10–3 rad) within
the enveloping single slit pattern; 2
[3]
8. (a) each element of the slit acts as a secondary source of waves;
the interference between these waves produces the diffraction pattern; 2

(b) (i) half width of central maximum = 3.1 (± 0.1) mm;

2.4  6.3 10 7
slit width = ;
3.110 3
= 0.50 mm; 3
Award [1 max] for use of 4.5 × 10–3 followed by use of sin (max) = nλ.
(ii) greater intensity;
decrease in width of central maximum; 2
[7]
REPORT
1. HL only It should be noted that the term “Fraunhofer diffraction” is used in the Subject
Guide and the term was used in this question to alert the candidates to the fact that the
question dealt with plane wavefronts. There was nothing in the candidates’ answers to
suggest that the use of the term had disadvantaged them; weak answers were clearly due
to lack of knowledge and understanding of the topic. Many candidates failed to mention
that it is the interference of the waves originating from the various different points on
the incident wavefront that accounted for the diffraction pattern. However sketches of
the intensity distribution were generally done well but the statement of the Rayleigh
criterion and its application caused a lot of problems.
2. HL only Almost no one thought of diffraction as the source of the problem. There seems
to be some confusion here. Students think that diffraction will only take place when the
wavelength of light is comparable to the aperture size. Since the wavelength of light is
small compared to the diameter of a lens, then no diffraction is expected. This, however,
is wrong. A lens that is aberration free will always produce an image of a point source that
is not a point but the result of some kind of diffraction pattern. The central part of this
image is always a bright spot (the Airy disc) that is surrounded by a dark ring. The angular
diameter of the dark ring is given by where b is the lens diameter. Even though the details
of this derivation and the theory of this kind of diffraction are beyond the level of this
course, these bare facts are on the syllabus and candidates should be aware of them. In
the second part to the question, there was also some confusion between radians and
degrees. The Rayleigh criterion was well-known and about half of the candidates carried
out the calculation correctly.
3. No Report available for this question.
4. No Report available for this question.
5. No Report available for this question.
6. [HL only] Diffraction and resolution in a telescope
Good answers to this question were rare indeed. The diffraction fringe pattern was often
poorly labelled and the diameter of the central maximum on the plate was often confused
with the radius. However, candidates were rather better at computing the resolution of
the telescope and hence the separation of the stars. The descriptions of the changes in
the appearance of the image were often vague and difficult to follow. Candidates
struggled to express their ideas.
7. Diffraction
This straightforward question was not answered well. Surprisingly few could estimate the
wavelength from the graph and the sketches of the diffraction pattern were
disappointing. The graph was not put on millimeter paper and that made reading the angle
of the first diffraction minimum somewhat difficult. Even so, the angle could be read
sufficiently accurately to give a wavelength within the range that was acceptable by the
mark-scheme. Diffraction continues to be, as in past exams, a difficult topic that students
do not appear to have studied in any obvious depth.
8. Single-slit diffraction
Complete answers to this question were rare indeed. Even though the candidates showed
familiarity with the term secondary wavelets, many opted for the typical explanation of
interference due to double slits, showing a lack of detailed reading of the question. The
calculation also showed a similar number of candidates either attempting it correctly or
going through the double slit case. A large number of those who correctly answered about
diffraction were unsuccessful at reading the correct screen distance but were able to get
marks through error carried forward.