In double-slit diffraction, what is the path difference for constructive interference at the first order maximum?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In double-slit diffraction, what is the path difference for constructive interference at the first order maximum?
λ/2
λ
2λ
3λ
For constructive interference, the path difference must be an integer multiple of the wavelength, so for the first order maximum, it is λ.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In double-slit diffraction, what is the path difference for constructive interference at the first order maximum?
Solution: For constructive interference, the path difference must be an integer multiple of the wavelength, so for the first order maximum, it is λ.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand that in double-slit diffraction, light waves pass through two slits and create interference patterns.
Step 2: Know that constructive interference occurs when the waves from the two slits meet in phase, meaning they add together to make a brighter light.
Step 3: Realize that for constructive interference, the path difference (the difference in distance traveled by the two waves) must be an integer multiple of the wavelength (λ).
Step 4: Identify that the first order maximum refers to the first bright spot in the interference pattern after the central maximum.
Step 5: For the first order maximum, the path difference is equal to one wavelength (λ).
