Consider two point sources of light separated by distance d and located symmetrically about the orgin as shown in the figure (not to scale). The two sources create waves which interfere (x, y) on an observation screen. Consider a point on the observation screen with coordinates (x, y). To determine the type of interference (constructive, destructive, or partial) we need to calculate the path length difference. To simplify calculations, we often use the interference approximation. We thus have two expressions for the path length difference:

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Consider two point sources of light separated
by distance d and located symmetrically about
the orgin as shown in the figure (not to scale).
The two sources create waves which interfere
(x, y)
on an observation screen. Consider a point on
the observation screen with coordinates (x, y).
To determine the type of interference
(constructive, destructive, or partial) we need
to calculate the path length difference. To
simplify calculations, we often use the
interference approximation. We thus have two expressions for the path length difference:
Arexact = r2 –rị , Arapprox = d sin 0
How good is the interference approximation? Let us investigate this questions in two
different cases. a) Suppose d = 1 and (x, y) = (3,2). All numbers are in SI units.
Calculate Arexact, Arapprox, and the percent difference between them. b) Suppose d =
1 and (x, y) = (30,20). All numbers are in SI units. Calculate Arexact, Arapprox, and the
percent difference between them.
Transcribed Image Text:Consider two point sources of light separated by distance d and located symmetrically about the orgin as shown in the figure (not to scale). The two sources create waves which interfere (x, y) on an observation screen. Consider a point on the observation screen with coordinates (x, y). To determine the type of interference (constructive, destructive, or partial) we need to calculate the path length difference. To simplify calculations, we often use the interference approximation. We thus have two expressions for the path length difference: Arexact = r2 –rị , Arapprox = d sin 0 How good is the interference approximation? Let us investigate this questions in two different cases. a) Suppose d = 1 and (x, y) = (3,2). All numbers are in SI units. Calculate Arexact, Arapprox, and the percent difference between them. b) Suppose d = 1 and (x, y) = (30,20). All numbers are in SI units. Calculate Arexact, Arapprox, and the percent difference between them.
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