Exciting Physics of Light Interference Patterns!

How far apart are the fringes in the center of the pattern on a screen 4.1 m away?

The distance between the slits and the screen is 4.1 m, the distance between the slits is 0.070 mm, and the wavelength of the laser light is 633 nm. Calculate the distance between the fringes in the center of the pattern.

Answer

The distance between the fringes in the center of the pattern on a screen 4.1 m away is approximately 0.032 mm.

In the experiment, a He-Ne laser beam with a wavelength of 633 nm falls on two narrow slits that are 0.070 mm apart. To calculate the distance between the fringes in the center of the pattern, we can use the formula: y = (λL) / d, where y represents the distance between the fringes.

By substituting the given values into the formula, we find that the distance between the central maximum and the first-order maximum is 0.037 mm. Since there is a fringe at the center, we subtract the distance between two adjacent fringes to get the distance between the fringes in the center, which is calculated to be approximately 0.032 mm.

The interference pattern observed is a result of the wave nature of light and the phenomenon of interference. The bright and dark fringes on the screen are formed due to constructive and destructive interference of light waves from the two slits. The distance between the fringes is dependent on the wavelength of light, the distance between the slits, and the distance between the slits and the screen.