In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled, how does the fringe width change?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled, how does the fringe width change?
Doubles
Halves
Remains the same
Quadruples
Fringe width (β) is inversely proportional to the distance between the slits (d). If d is doubled, β is halved.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled, how does the fringe width change?
Solution: Fringe width (β) is inversely proportional to the distance between the slits (d). If d is doubled, β is halved.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what fringe width (β) means. It is the distance between bright or dark spots on a screen in a double-slit experiment.
Step 2: Know that the distance between the slits is represented by 'd'.
Step 3: Remember the relationship: Fringe width (β) is inversely proportional to the distance between the slits (d). This means if 'd' increases, 'β' decreases.
Step 4: If the distance between the slits (d) is doubled, it means d becomes 2d.
Step 5: Since β is inversely proportional to d, if d is doubled (2d), then β becomes β/2.
Step 6: Conclude that if the distance between the slits is doubled, the fringe width (β) is halved.
