In a double-slit experiment, if the screen is moved further away from the slits,

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Question: In a double-slit experiment, if the screen is moved further away from the slits, what happens to the fringe separation? (2019)

Options:

Correct Answer: Increases

Exam Year: 2019

Solution:

Moving the screen further away increases the fringe separation, as fringe width β = λD/d; increasing D increases β.

In a double-slit experiment, if the screen is moved further away from the slits, what happens to the fringe separation? (2019)

In a double-slit experiment, if the screen is moved further away from the slits, what happens to the fringe separation? (2019)

Step 1: Understand the double-slit experiment. It involves light passing through two slits and creating a pattern of bright and dark lines (fringes) on a screen.
Step 2: Identify the key variables in the formula for fringe width (separation): β = λD/d.
Step 3: Recognize that λ (lambda) is the wavelength of the light, D is the distance from the slits to the screen, and d is the distance between the two slits.
Step 4: Note that if we move the screen further away, we are increasing the value of D.
Step 5: Understand that according to the formula, if D increases while λ and d remain constant, the fringe width β will also increase.
Step 6: Conclude that moving the screen further away results in greater fringe separation.

Double-slit experiment – A fundamental experiment in quantum mechanics demonstrating the wave-particle duality of light and matter, characterized by the interference pattern created by coherent light passing through two closely spaced slits.
Fringe separation – The distance between adjacent bright or dark fringes in the interference pattern, which is influenced by the wavelength of light, the distance between the slits, and the distance from the slits to the screen.
Fringe width formula – The relationship β = λD/d, where β is the fringe width, λ is the wavelength of light, D is the distance from the slits to the screen, and d is the distance between the slits.