In Fig, monochromatic light of wavelength diffracts through narrow slit S in an otherwise opaque screen. On the other side, a plane mirror is perpendicular to the screen and a distance h from the slit. A viewing screen A is a distance much greater than h. (Because it sits in a plane through the focal point of the lens, screen A is effectively very distant. The lens plays no other role in the experiment and can otherwise be neglected.) Light travels from the slit directly to A interferes with light from the slit that reflects from the mirror to A. The reflection causes a half-wavelength phase shift. (a) Is the fringe that corresponds to a zero path length difference bright or dark? Find expressions (like Eqs. 35-14 and 35-16) that locate (b) the bright fringes and (c) the dark fringes in the interference pattern. (Hint: Consider the image of S produced by the minor as seen from a point on the viewing screen, and then consider Young’s two-slit interference.)

Short Answer

Expert verified
  1. A zero path difference would correspond to a dark fringe.
  2. For bright fringes,2hsinθ=m+12λ
  3. For dark fringes,2hsinθ=mλ

Step by step solution

01

The given data

Given that monochromatic light of wavelength diffracts through narrow slit S in an otherwise opaque screen.

On the other side, a plane mirror is perpendicular to the screen and a distance h from the slit. A viewing screen A is a distance much greater than h.

Light travels from the slit directly to A interferes with light from the slit that reflects from the mirror to A. The reflection causes a half-wavelength phase shift.

02

Concept and Formula used

For bright fringes, the distance is either zero or an integer number of wavelengths dsinθ=mλfor m=0,1,2,...

And for dark fringes, the distance is odd multiple of half of wavelength,dsinθ=m+12λform=0,1,2,...

Here, d is distance, and λis wavelength.

Also, reflected ray has a phase change of πthat causes the location of dark and bright fringes to interchange.

03

Interpret whether the fringe is dark or bright

(a)

The combination of the direct ray and reflected ray from the mirror will produce an interference pattern on the screen, like the double-slit experiment. However, here, the reflected ray has a phase change of π, causing the locations of the dark and bright fringes to be interchanged. Thus, a zero path difference would correspond to a dark fringe.

04

Write expression for bright fringe

(b)

Here, the distance is 2h and has a phase change ofπ occurs, So

Condition to locate bright fringe in interference pattern is 2hsinθ=m+12λ

05

Write expression for dark fringe

(c)

Here, the distance is 2h and has a phase change of πoccurs, So

Condition to locate dark fringe in interference pattern is 2hsinθ=mλ

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In Fig. 35-4, assume that two waves of light in air, of wavelength 400nm, are initially in phase. One travels through a glass layer of index of refraction n1=1.60and thickness L. The other travels through an equally thick plastic layer of index of refraction n2=1.50. (a) What is the smallest value Lshould have if the waves are to end up with a phase difference of 5.65 rad? (b) If the waves arrive at some common point with the same amplitude, is their interference fully constructive, fully destructive, intermediate but closer to fully constructive, or intermediate but closer to fully destructive?

Transmission through thin layers. In Fig. 35-43, light is incident perpendicularly on a thin layer of material 2 that lies between (thicker) materials 1 and 3. (The rays are tilted only for clarity.) Part of the light ends up in material 3 as ray r3 (the light does not reflect inside material 2) and r4(the light reflects twice inside material 2). The waves of r3 and r4 interfere, and here we consider the type of interference to be either maximum (max) or minimum (min). For this situation, each problem in Table 35-3 refers to the indexes of refraction n1, n2, and n3, the type of interference, the thin-layer thickness L in nanometers, and the wavelength λ in nanometers of the light as measured in air. Where λ is missing, give the wavelength that is in the visible range. Where Lis missing, give the second least thickness or the third least thickness as indicated.

Figure 35-56a show two light rays that are initially in phase as they travel upward through a block of plastic, with wavelength 400 nm as measured in air. Light ray r1exits directly into air. However, before light ray r2exits into air, it travels through a liquid in a hollow cylinder within the plastic. Initially the height Lliqof the liquid is 40.0 μm, but then the liquid begins to evaporate. Let θbe the phase difference between raysr1and r2once they both exit into the air. Figure 35-56b, showsθ versus the liquid’s heightLliq until the liquid disappears, with θgiven in terms of wavelength and the horizontal scale set byLs=40.00μm.What are (a) the index of refraction of the plastic and (b) the index of refraction of the liquid?

The reflection of perpendicularly incident white light by a soap film in the air has an interference maximum at 600nmand a minimum at role="math" localid="1663024492960" 450nm, with no minimum in between. If n=1.33for the film, what is the film thickness, assumed uniform?

The wavelength of yellow sodium light in air is 589 nm. (a) What is its frequency? (b) What is its wavelength in glass whose index of refraction is 1.52? (c) From the results of (a) and (b), find its speed in this glass.

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