Chapter 37, Problem 2OQ

Four trials of Young’s double-slit experiment are conducted. (a) In the first trial, blue light passes through two fine slits 400 μm apart and forms an interference pattern on a screen 4 m 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 μm apart. (d) A final trial is performed with red light, slits 800 μm 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.