In a two-slit interference pattern, if the angle of the first order maximum is θ

Practice Questions

Q1
In a two-slit interference pattern, if the angle of the first order maximum is θ, what is the path difference?
  1. λ
  2. λ sin θ
  3. 2λ sin θ

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

In a two-slit interference pattern, if the angle of the first order maximum is θ, what is the path difference?
  • Step 1: Understand that in a two-slit interference pattern, light waves from two slits can interfere with each other.
  • Step 2: Know that the first order maximum occurs at a specific angle θ.
  • Step 3: Remember that the path difference is the difference in distance traveled by the two waves from the slits to the point of observation.
  • Step 4: The formula for path difference at an angle θ is given by d sin θ, where d is the distance between the two slits.
  • Step 5: For the first order maximum, the path difference is equal to one wavelength (λ).
  • Step 6: Therefore, we can set up the equation: d sin θ = λ.
  • Step 7: Rearranging this equation gives us the path difference as λ = d sin θ.
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