Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Show that the fringe pattern on the screen is actually a superposition of slit diffraction from each slit.
Advertisements
Solution
The intensity variation in the fringe pattern obtained on a screen in a Young’s double slit experiment corresponds to both single slit diffraction and double slit interference because the two sources are slits of finite width in the double slit experiment.
If a lens is placed in front of the double slits and when one of the slit S1 is closed and the other kept open, a single slit diffraction is formed on the screen. A similar diffraction pattern is obtained on the screen if the slit S1 is kept open and S2 is closed. Both diffraction patterns form on the same position on the screen in the focal plane of the lens. When both slits open simultaneously, the resulting total intensity pattern on the screen is actually the superposition of the single slit diffraction pattern formed by waves from various point sources of each slit and a double slit interference pattern as shown. The actual double slit intensity pattern consists of the interference pattern (solid lines) formed within the diffraction pattern (dotted lines).

APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
A parallel beam of light of wavelength 500 nm falls on a narrow slit and the resulting diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 1 m away. It is observed that the first minimum is a distance of 2.5 mm away from the centre. Find the width of the slit.
In Young’s double slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength λ, the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is λ, is K units. Find out the intensity of light at a point where path difference is λ/3.
The intensity at the central maxima in Young’s double slit experimental set-up is I0. Show that the intensity at a point where the path difference is λ/3 is I0/4.
A plate of thickness t made of a material of refractive index µ is placed in front of one of the slits in a double slit experiment. (a) Find the change in the optical path due to introduction of the plate. (b) What should be the minimum thickness t which will make the intensity at the centre of the fringe pattern zero? Wavelength of the light used is \[\lambda.\] Neglect any absorption of light in the plate.
Consider the arrangement shown in the figure. By some mechanism, the separation between the slits S3 and S4 can be changed. The intensity is measured at the point P, which is at the common perpendicular bisector of S1S2 and S2S4. When \[z = \frac{D\lambda}{2d},\] the intensity measured at P is I. Find the intensity when z is equal to

(a) \[\frac{D\lambda}{d}\]
(b) \[\frac{3D\lambda}{2d}\] and
(c) \[\frac{2D\lambda}{d}\]
In Young's double-slit experiment, the two slits are separated by a distance of 1.5 mm, and the screen is placed 1 m away from the plane of the slits. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths of 650 nm and 520 nm is used to obtain interference fringes.
Find the distance of the third bright fringe for λ = 520 nm on the screen from the central maximum.
Write the conditions on path difference under which constructive interference occurs in Young’s double-slit experiment.
In Young's double slit experiment shown in figure S1 and S2 are coherent sources and S is the screen having a hole at a point 1.0 mm away from the central line. White light (400 to 700 nm) is sent through the slits. Which wavelength passing through the hole has strong intensity?

In a double-slit experiment with monochromatic light, fringes are obtained on a screen placed at some distance from the plane of slits. If the screen is moved by 5 × 10-2 m towards the slits, the change in fringe width is 3 × 10-3 cm. If the distance between the slits is 1 mm, then the wavelength of the light will be ______ nm.
In Young's double-slit experiment, the separation between the two slits is d and the distance of the screen from the slits is 1000 d. If the first minima fall at a distance d from the central maximum, obtain the relation between d and λ.
