In a two-slit interference pattern, if the distance between the slits is increased, what happens to the fringe separation?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In a two-slit interference pattern, if the distance between the slits is increased, what happens to the fringe separation?
Increases
Decreases
Remains the same
Becomes zero
Increasing the distance between the slits (d) decreases the fringe separation, as fringe separation is inversely proportional to d.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In a two-slit interference pattern, if the distance between the slits is increased, what happens to the fringe separation?
Solution: Increasing the distance between the slits (d) decreases the fringe separation, as fringe separation is inversely proportional to d.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what a two-slit interference pattern is. It is a pattern created when light passes through two closely spaced slits and creates bright and dark spots on a screen.
Step 2: Identify the key terms. The distance between the slits is called 'd', and the distance between the bright or dark spots on the screen is called 'fringe separation'.
Step 3: Know the relationship between the distance between the slits (d) and fringe separation. Fringe separation is inversely proportional to the distance between the slits.
Step 4: Inverse proportionality means that if one value increases, the other value decreases. So, if the distance between the slits (d) increases, the fringe separation decreases.
Step 5: Conclude that increasing the distance between the slits results in closer fringe separation on the screen.