# Archived Finding the distance between two fringes in a double slit experiment

1. Mar 6, 2013

### prettykitty

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Blue light of wavelength 400 nm passes through two slits which are a distance
d = 1×10−4 m apart. This produces a double slit pattern on a screen L = 12 m away. (The
screen is parallel to the plane of the two slits.) If the central bright fringe is denoted the
“m=0 fringe”, what is the distance between the m = 15 and m = 14 bright fringe on the
screen? (All angles are suﬃciently small that tan θ ≈ sin θ ≈ θ.)

2. Relevant equations

dsin(θ) = mλ
y = L tan(θ)

3. The attempt at a solution

arcsin[(15*400e-9)/1e-4] = 3.44°
y= 12 * tan (3.44) = .72 m

arcsin[(14*400e-9)/1e-4] = 3.21°
y= 12 * tan (3.21) = .67 m

y2-y1 = .72-.67 = .05 m

That was my attempt. First to find out how far the 14th and 15th bright fringe were from the center and then to find the distance between them.
The answer given by the instructor is: .113 m or 11.3 cm.
But why? I still can't find anything wrong with my train of thought. Thanks!!

2. Oct 29, 2016

### Ibix

The problem specifies small angles, so $\sin\theta\simeq \tan\theta\simeq y/L$ and hence $y=mL\lambda/d$. The distance between the 14th and 15th fringes is, therefore, $\Delta y=(15-14)L\lambda/d$. Plugging in your numbers gives me 4.8cm.

In other words, I agree with you.

3. Nov 1, 2016

### davenn

you realised you grabbed this thread and the other one out of 3 year old archives ??

4. Nov 1, 2016

### Ibix

They were in the Open Practice Problems forum when I answered them, so yes I did. I used to be an optics guy, and was enjoying a spot of nostalgia answering them.