Question

How would the interference pattern change for this experiment if a. the grating was moved twice as far from the screen and b. the line density of the grating were doubled?

Answer 1

a) the distance between the interference fringes is reduced by half

b) the distance between stripes is doubled

Step-by-step explanation:

Interference experiments constructive interference is described by the expression

d sin θ = m λ

let's use trigonometry to find the distance between the interference fringes

tan θ= y / L

dodne y is the distance from the central maximum, L the distance from the slit to the observation screen. In general these experiments are carried out at very small angles

tan θ = sin θ / cos θ = sin θ

we substitute

sin θ = y / L

d y / L = m λ

y = m λ / d L

a) it asks us when the screen doubles its distance

L ’= 2 L

subtitute in the equation

y ’= m λ / (d 2L)

y ’=( m λ / d L) /2

y ’= y / 2

the distance between the interference fringes is reduced by half

b) the density of the network doubles

if the density doubles in the same distance there are twice as many slits, so the distance between them is reduced by half

d ’= d / 2

we substitute

y ’= m λ (L d / 2)

y ’= m λ / (L d) 2

y ’= y 2

the distance between stripes is doubled