In a two-slit interference pattern, if the intensity at the center is I_0, what
Practice Questions
Q1
In a two-slit interference pattern, if the intensity at the center is I_0, what is the intensity at the first minimum?
0
I_0
I_0/2
I_0/4
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a two-slit interference pattern, if the intensity at the center is I_0, what is the intensity at the first minimum?
Step 1: Understand that in a two-slit interference pattern, light waves from two slits can combine.
Step 2: Know that when the waves from the two slits meet, they can either add together (constructive interference) or cancel each other out (destructive interference).
Step 3: The center of the pattern is where the waves from both slits are perfectly in sync, resulting in maximum intensity, which is I_0.
Step 4: The first minimum occurs where the waves from the two slits are out of sync by half a wavelength, causing them to cancel each other out.
Step 5: Since the waves cancel each other out at the first minimum, the intensity at this point is 0.
