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24.1 and 24.2 Young’s double-slit experiment and Index of refraction, light speed, and wave coherence
* Sound interference Two sources of sound waves are 2.0 m apart and vibrate in phase, producing sinusoidal sound waves of wavelength 1.0 m. (a) Use the wave front representation to explain what happens to the amplitude of sound along a line equidistant from each source and perpendicular to the line connecting the sources. (b) Use a graphical representation (pressure-versus-position graph) to explain what happens along that line. (c) Which representation is more helpful? Explain.
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College Physics
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- Raise your hand and hold it flat. Think of the space between your index finger and your middle finger as one slit and think of the space between middle finger and ring finger as a second slit. (a) Consider the interference resulting from sending coherent visible light perpendicularly through this pair of openings. Compute an order-of-magnitude estimate for the angle between adjacent zones of constructive interference. (b) To make the angles in the interference pattern easy to measure with a plastic protractor, you should use an electromagnetic wave with frequency of what order of magnitude? (c) How is this wave classified on the electromagnetic spectrum?arrow_forwardUnreasonable Results Red light of wavelength of 700 nm falls on a double slit separated by 400 nm. (a) At what angle is the first-order maximum in the diffraction pattern? (b) What is unreasonable about this result? (c) Which assumptions are unreasonable or inconsistent?arrow_forwardMonochromatic light is beamed into a Michelson interferometer. The movable mirror is displaced 0.382 mm, causing the central spot in the interferometer pattern to change from bright to dark and back to bright N = 1 700 times. (a) Determine the wavelength of the light. What color is it? (b) If monochromatic red light is used instead and the mirror is moved the same distance, would N be larger or smaller? Explain.arrow_forward
- In Figure 38.4, assume the slit is in a barrier that is opaque to x-rays as well as to visible light. The photograph in Figure 38.4b shows the diffraction pattern produced with visible light. What will happen if the experiment is repeated with x-rays as the incoming wave and with no other changes? (a) The diffraction pattern is similar. (b) There is no noticeable diffraction pattern but rather a projected shadow of high intensity on the screen, having the same width as the slit. (c) The central maximum is much wider, and the minima occur at larger angles than with visible light. (d) No x-rays reach the screen.arrow_forwardMonochromatic light of wavelength is incident on a pair of slits separated by 2.40 104m. and forms an interference pattern on a screen placed 1.80 m away from the slits. The first-order bright fringe is 4.52 mm from the center of the central maximum. (a) Draw a picture, labeling the angle and the legs of the right triangle associated with the first-order bright fringe. (b) Compute the tangent of the angle associated with the first-order bright fringe. (c) Find the angle corresponding to the first-order bright fringe and compute the sine of that angle. Are the sine and tangent of the angle comparable in value? Does your answer always hold true? (d) Calculate the wavelength of the light. (e) Compute the angle of the fifth-order bright fringe. (f) Find its position on the screen.arrow_forwardFigure P36.35 shows a radio-wave transmitter and a receiver separated by a distance d and both a distance h above the ground. The receiver can receive signals both directly from the transmitter and indirectly from signals that reflect from the ground. Assume the ground is level between the transmitter and receiver and a 180 phase shift occurs upon reflection. Determine the longest wavelengths that interfere (a) constructively and (b) destructively.arrow_forward
- Suppose you use the same double slit to perform Young's double slit experiment in air and then repeat the experiment in water. Do the angles to the same parts of the interference pattern get larger or smaller? Does the color of the light change? Explain.arrow_forwardCoherent light of wavelength 501.5 nm is sent through two parallel slits in an opaque material. Each slit is 0.700 m wide. Their centers are 2.80 m apart. The light then falls on a semicylindrical screen, with its axis at the midline between the slits. We would like to describe the appearance of the pattern of light visible on the screen. (a) Find the direction for each two-slit interference maximum on the screen as an angle away from the bisector of the line joining the slits. (b) How many angles are there that represent two-slit interference maxima? (c) Find the direction for each single-slit interference minimum on the screen as an angle away from the bisector of the line joining the slits. (d) How many angles are there that represent single-slit interference minima? (e) How many of the angles in part (d) are identical to those in part (a)? (f) How many bright fringes are visible on the screen? (g) If the intensity of the central fringe is Imax, what is the intensity of the last fringe visible on the screen?arrow_forwardFour trials of Young's double-slit experiment are conducted. (a) In the first trial, blue light passes through two fine slits 400 m apart and forms an interference pattern on a screen 4 in away, (b) In a second trial, red light passes through the same slits and falls on the same screen. (c) A third trial is performed with red light and the same screen, but with slits 800 m apart, (d) A final trial is performed with red light, slits 800 m apart, and a screen 8 m away. (i) Rank the trials (a) through (d) from the largest to the smallest value of the angle between the central maximum and the first-order side maximum. In your ranking, note any cases of equality, (ii) Rank the same trials according to the distance between the central maximum and the First-order side maximum on the screen.arrow_forward
- The laser in a compact disc player must precisely follow the spiral track on CD, along which the distance between one loop of the spiral and the next is only about 1.25 m. Figure P38.29 (page 1186) shows how a diffraction grating is used to provide information to keep the beam on track. The laser light passes through a diffraction grating before it reaches the CD. The strong central maximum of the diffraction pattern is used to read the information in the track of pits. The two first-order side maxima are designed to fall on the flat surfaces on both sides of the information track and are used for steering. As long as both beams are reflecting from smooth, nonpitted .surfaces, they are detected with constant high intensity. If the main beam wanders off the track, however, one of the side beams begins to strike pits on the information track and the reflected light diminishes. This change is used with an electronic circuit to guide the beam back to the desired location. Assume the laser light has a wavelength of 780 11m and the diffraction grating is positioned 6.90 m from tike disk. Assume the first-order beams are to fall on the CD 0.400 m on either side of the information track. What should be the number of grooves per millimeter in the grating?arrow_forwardSuppose Youngs double-slit experiment is performed in air using red light and then the apparatus is immersed in water. What happens to the interference pattern on the screen? (a) It disappears. (b) The bright and dark fringes stay in the same locations, but the contrast is reduced. (c) The bright fringes are closer together. (d) The bright fringes are farther apart. (e) No change happens in the interference pattern.arrow_forward(a) The planet Pluto and its Moon Charon are separated by 19,600 km. Neglecting atmospheric effects, should the 5.08-m-diameter Mount Palomar telescope be able to resolve these bodies when they are 4.50109 km from Earth? Assume an average wavelength of 550 nm. (b) In actuality, it is just barely possible to discern that Pluto and Charon are separate bodies using an Earth-based telescope. What are the reasons for this?arrow_forward
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