Interpreting Young's Light Interference Data: Can You Help Me Clear My Doubts?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation of data obtained from a Young's light interference experiment. Participants are analyzing the intensity data to identify the positions of bright orders in the interference pattern, considering various setups and configurations that may affect the results.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster questions whether the positions corresponding to 5 amps, 220, 260, 130, 90, 50, and 10 can be accurately classified as central and higher order bright fringes.
  • One participant requests clarification on the experimental setup, suggesting it may involve a grating and a single slit interference pattern.
  • Another participant notes the unusual envelope shape and intensity units, expressing skepticism about the linear spacing of maxima if a grating is used.
  • One participant confirms the setup involves a single slit enveloped by a grating.
  • A different participant discusses the expected intensity distribution for a simple diffraction grating and contrasts it with the observed data, suggesting that the grating may not conform to typical expectations.
  • This participant raises questions about the nature of the waves involved, speculating whether they are light or another type of electromagnetic wave.
  • Despite the uncertainties, this participant tentatively supports the original poster's interpretation of the data.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of the data and the nature of the experimental setup. There is no consensus on the classification of the bright orders or the characteristics of the grating used.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the provided information, including the lack of details about the experimental setup and the nature of the grating, which may affect the interpretation of the interference pattern.

JosefMTD
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Hello!
I have done this experiment and managed to find this data:
http://puu.sh/bO8TJ/ac3520ec8b.png

Am I right for saying that the position that reaches the value of 5 amps are the central bright and the position 220-ish as the 1st bright order and the position 260-ish as the 2nd bright order?

Or is it also okay to say that the position around 130 is a 1st bright order, the position around 90 is a 2nd bright order and position around 50 is a 3rd bright order and the position around 10 is the 4th bright order?

I'm having this doubt analyzing this data, can anyone help me clear my doubt?
Thank you.
 
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It would help a lot if you could describe your setup first. I guess it's a grating (multiple number of slits). So you have a grating-interference pattern with the interference pattern of the single slit as the envelop or something like this, I guess.
 
Strange envelope shape. Strange intensity units. Strangely even linear spacing of maxima, too, if this is a grating. Would be interesting to know the set-up.
 
Ya, this is a single slit enveloped a grating
 
Ya, this is a single slit enveloped a grating
 
I think this is hard to interpret. If the diffraction grating is a simple array of evenly spaced rectangular slits then the zeroth order beam would be the most intense, and the intensity of beams on either side would fall off, higher order beams becoming less intense. The reason for that is the 'modulating' single slit diffraction pattern, which gives the 'envelope'.

The pattern you have is not what I've just described, because the envelope is quite different in shape. This may be because you are using a diffraction grating which isn't much like an array of rectangular slits, but instead some other periodic variation of transmission as we go across the grating. It may be a reflection grating - you don't say which. The 'transmission profile' (or 'reflection profile') may be specially designed so the intensity is greater in certain higher orders.

Are we even dealing with light? Or some other electromagnetic wave?

With no more information than what you've given us, I'd say that your interpretation is quite likely to be the right one.
 
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