What is the condition for constructive interference in a double-slit experiment?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the condition for constructive interference in a double-slit experiment?
Path difference is an odd multiple of lambda/2
Path difference is an even multiple of lambda
Path difference is an odd multiple of lambda
Path difference is zero
Constructive interference occurs when the path difference between the two waves is an even multiple of the wavelength (nλ, where n is an integer).
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the condition for constructive interference in a double-slit experiment?
Solution: Constructive interference occurs when the path difference between the two waves is an even multiple of the wavelength (nλ, where n is an integer).
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that in a double-slit experiment, two waves are created from two slits.
Step 2: Know that these waves travel different distances to reach a point on a screen.
Step 3: The difference in distance traveled by the two waves is called the 'path difference.'
Step 4: For constructive interference to happen, the path difference must be a whole number multiple of the wavelength.
Step 5: This means the path difference can be 0, 1 wavelength, 2 wavelengths, etc. (nλ, where n is 0, 1, 2, 3, ...).
Step 6: When this condition is met, the waves add together to make a brighter light on the screen.
