Question

Why is point C the brightest point of the single-slit diffraction pattern?

Options

• A significant portion of the slit cancels out

• Paired rays have a path difference of \[\frac{\lambda}{2}\] and cancel

• All wavelets arrive in phase and undergo constructive superposition

• C lies between consecutive minima

Answer 1

At C, the path differences are zero, so all wavelets arrive in phase. Their constructive superposition produces the brightest point, the central maximum.