Calculating Maxima in 1-D Wave Interference with a Half-Silvered Mirror

  • Thread starter Thread starter XJellieBX
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Interference Wave
AI Thread Summary
Monochromatic light of 400 nm wavelength interacts with a half-silvered mirror, directing light to two mirrors, C and D, before reaching a detector. The movement of mirror C by 10 microns alters the path length, affecting the interference pattern observed at the detector. The key to solving the problem lies in calculating the additional path length and determining how many wavelengths fit into that distance. Since the intensity at D starts as a minimum, the number of maxima observed will depend on the total change in path length. Understanding these concepts is crucial for accurately predicting the interference pattern.
XJellieBX
Messages
39
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Monochromatic light of wavelength \lambda = 400 nm enters at A. It impinges on a ‘half-silvered mirror’ B, which directs some of the light to mirror C, while passing the rest to mirror D. Some of the reflected light from mirror C passes back through the half-silvered mirror, where it combines with reflected light from D, arriving at the detector. Mirror C is attached to a micrometer, so that it can be moved to change the path length B − C − B.
If mirror C is moved through 10 microns (1 micron is 10−6 m), how many maxima will be
observed at the detector? Assume that the intensity at D is intially a minimum.


Homework Equations


D(x,t)=asin(kx-wt+\phi_{0}


The Attempt at a Solution


I'm actually not sure how to approach this to begin with, so any advice is appreciated. I've also attached a copy of the diagram. I'm thinking this might have something to do with the path length being x1 and x2
 

Attachments

  • interferometer.jpg
    interferometer.jpg
    6.3 KB · Views: 468
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi XJellieBX! :smile:

If mirror C is moved through 10−6 m, how much longer does that make the path?

So how many wavelengths is that? And how many maxima will go past?
 
So if I find how many wavelengths that is, which i did find, i can figure out the number of maxima. I'm just not too sure if that is all this question is asking for, but thank you nevertheless =)
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top