single-slit diffraction

Single-slit diffraction occurs when a beam of light passes through a narrow opening and spreads out or bends as it emerges. This happens because light behaves like a wave, and the slit acts like a barrier causing the wave to interfere with itself. As a result, instead of a sharp, focused beam, we see a pattern of bright and dark bands on a screen. The central bright band is the largest, with decreasing brightness on either side. The narrower the slit, the more the light diffracts, creating wider patterns of interference.