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Question
Show that the fringe pattern on the screen is actually a superposition of slit diffraction from each slit.
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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).

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RELATED QUESTIONS
How does the fringe width get affected, if the entire experimental apparatus of Young is immersed in water?
In a double slit interference experiment, the separation between the slits is 1.0 mm, the wavelength of light used is 5.0 × 10−7 m and the distance of the screen from the slits is 1.0m. (a) Find the distance of the centre of the first minimum from the centre of the central maximum. (b) How many bright fringes are formed in one centimetre width on the screen?
Consider the arrangement shown in the figure. The distance D is large compared to the separation d between the slits.
- Find the minimum value of d so that there is a dark fringe at O.
- Suppose d has this value. Find the distance x at which the next bright fringe is formed.
- Find the fringe-width.

In Young's double slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm, 5th bright fringe is at a distance of 0·48 mm from the centre of the pattern. If the screen is at a distance of 80 cm from the plane of the two slits, calculate:
(i) Distance between the two slits.
(ii) Fringe width, i.e. fringe separation.
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.
A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 600 nm and 500 nm is used in Young's double slit experiment. The silt separation is 1.0 mm and the screen is kept 0.60 m away from the plane of the slits. Calculate:
- the distance of the second bright fringe from the central maximum for wavelength 500 nm, and
- the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both wavelengths coincide.
In a Young's double slit experiment, the width of the one of the slit is three times the other slit. The amplitude of the light coming from a slit is proportional to the slit- width. Find the ratio of the maximum to the minimum intensity in the interference pattern.
Interference fringes are observed on a screen by illuminating two thin slits 1 mm apart with a light source (λ = 632.8 nm). The distance between the screen and the slits is 100 cm. If a bright fringe is observed on a screen at distance of 1.27 mm from the central bright fringe, then the path difference between the waves, which are reaching this point from the slits is close to :
- Assertion (A): In Young's double slit experiment all fringes are of equal width.
- Reason (R): The fringe width depends upon the wavelength of light (λ) used, the distance of the screen from the plane of slits (D) and slits separation (d).
In an interference experiment, a third bright fringe is obtained at a point on the screen with a light of 700 nm. What should be the wavelength of the light source in order to obtain the fifth bright fringe at the same point?
