In a Michelson interferometer, what happens to the interference pattern if one of the mirrors is moved slightly?

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Q: In a Michelson interferometer, what happens to the interference pattern if one of the mirrors is moved slightly?

Solution: Moving one of the mirrors changes the path length for one of the beams, causing a shift in the interference pattern.

Steps: 6

Step 1: Understand that a Michelson interferometer splits a beam of light into two beams using a beam splitter.
Step 2: Know that these two beams travel different paths and then recombine to create an interference pattern.
Step 3: Realize that the interference pattern is created by the combination of the two beams, which can either add together (constructive interference) or cancel each other out (destructive interference).
Step 4: When one of the mirrors is moved slightly, it changes the distance that one of the beams travels.
Step 5: This change in distance alters the phase of the light wave from that beam when it recombines with the other beam.
Step 6: As a result, the interference pattern shifts, which can be seen as a movement of bright and dark spots.