Question

In a double-slit experiment, it is observed that the distance between adjacent maxima on a remote screen is 1.0 cm. what happens to the distance between adjacent maxima when the slit separation is cut in half?

Answer 1

When the slit separation is cut in half in a double-slit experiment, the distance between adjacent maxima on the screen is also cut in half.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a double-slit experiment, the distance between adjacent maxima on a remote screen is determined by the wavelength of the light used and the distance between the slits. When the slit separation is cut in half, the distance between adjacent maxima will also be cut in half.

For example, if the distance between adjacent maxima was 1.0 cm before the slit separation was halved, it would be 0.5 cm after the slit separation is halved. This is because the wavelength of the light and the distance between the slits determine the spacing of the maxima on the screen.

Answer 2

as the displacement of the maxima is calculated with the equation
(displacement)y=(mλD)/slit separation (d)
halving the split separation doubles the displacement