In Young's double-slit experiment, the interference pattern produced by light passing through two closely spaced slits depends on various factors, including the width of the slits. The width of the slits influences the characteristics of the interference pattern observed.
When the slits are narrow and the width is comparable to the wavelength of the light used, the resulting interference pattern exhibits greater diffraction. Diffraction refers to the bending and spreading out of light waves as they pass through an aperture or around an obstacle. In this case, each slit acts as a secondary source of waves, and the diffracted waves from both slits interfere with each other to produce the observed pattern. The interference pattern becomes more pronounced and has narrower fringes when the slits are narrower.
On the other hand, if the slits are wider compared to the wavelength of light, the diffraction effects are less prominent. The individual slits act more like point sources of light, and the interference pattern appears more like a series of bright and dark fringes without much diffraction spreading. The fringes are wider and less distinct in this case.
In summary, the width of the slits in Young's double-slit experiment affects the interference pattern through the phenomenon of diffraction. Narrower slits lead to greater diffraction, resulting in a more pronounced interference pattern with narrower fringes. Wider slits reduce the diffraction effects, resulting in less distinct interference fringes. The interplay between the width of the slits and the wavelength of light determines the specific characteristics of the interference pattern observed.