In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled while
Practice Questions
Q1
In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled while keeping the wavelength constant, what happens to the fringe width?
Doubles
Halves
Remains the same
Quadruples
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the slits is doubled while keeping the wavelength constant, 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, D is the distance from the slits to the screen, and d is the distance between the slits.
Step 3: Note that in this scenario, the wavelength (λ) and the distance to the screen (D) remain constant.
Step 4: Recognize that if the distance between the slits (d) is doubled, we replace d with 2d in the formula.
Step 5: Substitute into the formula: β = λD/(2d).
Step 6: Compare the new fringe width (β) with the original fringe width (β = λD/d).
Step 7: Since β = λD/(2d) is half of β = λD/d, we conclude that the new fringe width is half of the original fringe width.
