Two glass plates - next dark fringe?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the position of the next dark fringe created by two glass plates separated by a thread of 0.0500 mm diameter, with incident light wavelengths of 400 nm and 600 nm. The relevant formulas for determining dark fringes are 2nt = mλ and 2nt = (m + 1/2)λ, where n is the refractive index and t is the thickness of the air film. The phase shift of 180 degrees for the light reflecting off the bottom plate is crucial for applying the correct formula. The size of the thread affects the thickness of the air film, which is essential for accurate calculations.

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lizzyb
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Question
Two glass plates 10.0 cm long are in contact at one end and separated at the other end by a thread 0.0500 mm in diameter. Light containing the two wavelengths 400 nm and 600 nm is incident perpendicularly. At what distance from the contact point is the next dark fringe?

Relevant Formulas
2 n t = m \lambda (1)
2 n t = (m + {{1}\over {2}}) \lambda (2)

Work So Far
This one is weird since the light contains two wavelengths plus I don't see how the size of the thread plays into this since we're to find the "next dark fringe" away from the contact point.

Now, the light coming through the plate on the top does not have a phase shift, but the one reflecting off the top of the bottom plate does phase shift 180 degrees. So it seems to me that equation (1) should be used.

How do I fit the distance between spots in this one?
 
Last edited:
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The size of the thread is important because it tells you how the thickness (t) of the air film between the two pieces of glass changes.
 

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