Question

Two narrow slits are 0.12 mm apart. light of wavelength 550 nm illuminates the slits, causing an interference pattern on a screen 1.0 m away. Light from each slit travels to the m=1 maximum on the right side of the central maximum. how much farther did the light from the left slit travel that the light from the right slit?

Answer 1

Answer:

500 nm

Explanation:

$d_l$ = Distance traveled by light from left slit

$d_r$ = Distance traveled by light from right slit

$\Delta x$ = Path difference = $d_l-d_r$

m = Order = 1

$\lambda$ = Wavelength = 550 nm

Path difference is given by

$\Delta x=m\lambda\\\Rightarrow d_l-d_r=1\times 550\\\Rightarrow d_l-d_r=500\ nm$

The required distance is 500 nm