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Workedexample Doubleslit

This document provides a worked example of calculating the wavelength of light and the distance between fringes in a double-slit experiment using different light sources. It shows the calculations for determining the wavelength of an unknown light and then calculating the new fringe spacing when changing to a red laser with a known wavelength.

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31 views2 pages

Workedexample Doubleslit

This document provides a worked example of calculating the wavelength of light and the distance between fringes in a double-slit experiment using different light sources. It shows the calculations for determining the wavelength of an unknown light and then calculating the new fringe spacing when changing to a red laser with a known wavelength.

Uploaded by

sciencedocsman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Worked example

Question
In a Young double-slit experiment, an eyepiece was moved 9.2 mm when measuring the
distance from the left edge of the second bright fringe to the left edge of the 12th fringe.
The screen is 2.5 m from two slits 1.6 mm apart.
a What is the wavelength of the light?
b The light is replaced with a red laser with wavelength 632 nm. What is the new
distance from the left edge of the second bright fringe to the left edge of the 12th fringe?
Answer
a Step 1
Identify the equation for calculating the wavelength, and the values you need from the
question.
ax
λ=
D
(12 – 2) x  9.2 mm (x  9.2  10–4 m), D  2.5 m, a  1.6 mm  1.6  10–3 m
Step 2
Substitute the values into the equation.
–3 –4
(1. 6×10 )( 9. 2×10 )
λ=
2. 5
Step 3
Calculate 
  5.9  10–7 m or 590 nm
b Step 4
You will use the same equation as in part a. List your values.  will be different, and D
and a will be the same.
  632 nm  632  10–9 m, D  2.5 m, a  1.6 mm  1.6  10–3 m
Step 5
Substitute the values into the equation.
–3
(1.6×10 ) x
632  10 
–9 2 .5
Step 6
Rearrange the equation.
(632×10 –9 )×2 . 5
x 1 . 6×10 –3

Step 7
Calculate x.
x  9.9  10–4 m
Step 8
Remember to calculate the new distance from the second to the 12th fringe.
The distance (12 – 2) x = 10  9.9  10–4 m  9.9 mm
b Alternative solution
Step 4
a and D are the same in part a and part b so use a ratio method:
ax 1 ax 2 λ1 X 1 10 x 1
λ1 = λ2 = = =
D and D so λ2 X 2 10 x 2

Step 5
Substitute the values into the equation.
5. 9×10 –7 9 . 2 mm
= =0 . 934
632×10−9 10 x 2
Step 6
Rearrange the equation.
9 . 2 mm
10  x 2 = =9 . 9 mm
0 .934
Step 7
Explain that this is your answer.
The distance to the centre of the 10th fringe  10x  10  9.9  10–4 m  9.9 mm

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