Q2.
A student carries out an experiment to determine the diameter of a cylindrical wire based
on the theory of Young’s double−slit experiment, using the arrangement shown in Figure
1.
Figure 1
The wire is mounted vertically in front of a single narrow slit which is illuminated by
monochromatic light. The wire produces a shadow between points P and Q on a
glass slide covered with tracing paper. The light diffracts as it passes the wire.
Points A and B act as coherent sources causing interference fringes to be seen
between P and Q.
The student uses a metre ruler to measure the distances L and D shown in Figure
1. Figure 2 shows the pattern of interference fringes between P and Q. The student
takes readings from a vernier scale to indicate the positions of the centres of two of
the fringes.
Figure 2
The student’s measurements are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
L/mm D/mm R1/mm R2/mm
46 395 8.71 11.16
(a) Determine the spacing of the interference fringes w using Figure 1 and the data in
Table 1.
Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller TheQuizMaster. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.96. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.