In a Michelson interferometer, what happens to the interference pattern if one o
Practice Questions
Q1
In a Michelson interferometer, what happens to the interference pattern if one of the mirrors is moved slightly?
The pattern remains unchanged
The pattern shifts
The pattern disappears
The pattern becomes brighter
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a Michelson interferometer, what happens to the interference pattern if one of the mirrors is moved slightly?
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.
