In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled, what

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Question: In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled, what happens to the fringe width?

Options:

Correct Answer: Halves

Solution:

Fringe width (β) is given by β = λD/d, where d is the distance between the slits. If d is doubled, β becomes β/2, hence the fringe width halves.

In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled, what happens to the fringe width?

In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled, what happens to the fringe width?

Step 1: Understand the formula for fringe width, which is β = λD/d.
Step 2: Identify the variables in the formula: λ is the wavelength of light, D is the distance from the slits to the screen, and d is the distance between the slits.
Step 3: Note that if the distance between the slits (d) is doubled, we can represent this as d' = 2d.
Step 4: Substitute the new value of d into the formula: β' = λD/(2d).
Step 5: Simplify the new formula: β' = (1/2)(λD/d) = β/2.
Step 6: Conclude that when the distance between the slits is doubled, the fringe width (β) is halved.

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