Slit pattern, vertical or horizontal?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the orientation of the interference pattern produced by vertical slits in a double-slit experiment. Participants are exploring whether the resulting pattern is horizontal or vertical, with references to visual examples and personal experiences in laboratory settings.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about whether the interference pattern from vertical slits is horizontal or vertical.
  • Another participant describes the bright and dark bands as oriented vertically, parallel to the slits, but spread out in a horizontal pattern, which is perpendicular to the slits.
  • A subsequent post questions if the orientation should be considered as rotated 90 degrees, suggesting an alternative view of the pattern's orientation.
  • One participant confirms their understanding of the pattern's behavior based on personal experience in undergraduate labs, indicating that the described orientation is correct.
  • A later reply expresses gratitude for the clarification provided by another participant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There appears to be some disagreement regarding the orientation of the interference pattern, with multiple interpretations presented. While one participant affirms a specific understanding based on experience, others are still seeking clarity.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to visual examples and personal laboratory experiences, which may influence participants' interpretations. There is also a lack of consensus on the correct orientation of the pattern.

lightconstant
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
This has already been asked:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=77835

It is a simple question but I am confused, if the slit or the slits are vertical the direction of the pattern is horizontal or vertical?
Vertical:
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|

Or horizontal like in this video:

|

| || | | | |

|

At the left is the two slits and at the right the pattern, the first one in the same direction of the slits vertical and the second one horizontal (It should go inside the screen) but It is hard to draw
Which one is it?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
lightconstant said:
Or horizontal like in this video:


The bright and dark bands are each oriented vertically, parallel to the slit(s), but they are spread out in a horizontal pattern, perpendicular to the slit(s). This is how I would describe the patterns shown from about 1:00 onwards in that movie.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jtbell said:
The bright and dark bands are each oriented vertically, parallel to the slit(s), but they are spread out in a horizontal pattern, perpendicular to the slit(s). This is how I would describe the patterns shown from about 1:00 onwards in that movie.
Well expressed jtbell so is that what it happens or should it be rotated 90 degrees like:

The bright and dark bands are each oriented horizontally, perpendicular to the slit(s), but they are spread out in a vertical pattern parallel to the slit(s)?
 
please can someone answer my question?
 
lightconstant said:
so is that what it happens

Yes, it happens the way I described it. I've seen it many times in undergraduate labs during the past 25+ years.

(not the single-photon-at-a-time version, but rather shining a laser beam through slits.)
 
Thank you jtbell
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
9K
  • · Replies 81 ·
3
Replies
81
Views
8K