Amplitude and Young double slit experiment

AI Thread Summary
In the context of the Young double slit experiment, reducing the size of one slit does not decrease the amplitude of light but rather affects the power or intensity of the light passing through that slit. The amplitude of light is typically linked to its intensity, which remains uniform across the slit when illuminated by a plane wave. Therefore, while the overall power decreases with a smaller slit, the amplitude itself does not change. This distinction is crucial for understanding the behavior of light in the experiment. The discussion emphasizes the importance of differentiating between amplitude and power in wave physics.
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Homework Statement


For a question in a worksheet (the actual question is irrelevant), my physics teacher said, in the context of the Young double slit experiment with light, if you make one of the slits smaller, then the amplitude of light from that source will also decrease.
Is that true?

Homework Equations


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The Attempt at a Solution


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How did your teacher define light amplitude?
As far as I know, the amplitude of light is most often associated with the intensity. If the two slits is illuminated by a plane wave, the intensity and hence the amplitude across the slit opening is uniform. Reducing the slit size will obviously not affect the intensity, instead, it's the power (energy/time) which is decreasing.
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
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