Young's Double Slit with 2 Wavelengths variant

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the angles θ for bright fringes in a Double Slit experiment using two wavelengths: 500nm and 600nm. The slit separation is given as d=1mm. The formula used to determine the angles is θ = arcsin(mλ/d), where m represents the order of the fringe. The participants conclude that while there are theoretically infinite fringes, practical limits exist, as the maximum angle is constrained to θ = 90 degrees.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wave interference principles
  • Familiarity with the Double Slit experiment
  • Knowledge of the sine function and inverse sine (arcsin)
  • Basic concepts of wavelength and slit separation
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the implications of varying slit separation in interference patterns
  • Learn about the effects of single slit diffraction on interference patterns
  • Investigate the relationship between wavelength and fringe visibility
  • Study advanced applications of the Double Slit experiment in quantum mechanics
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Students and educators in physics, particularly those studying wave optics and interference phenomena, will benefit from this discussion.

JohnGaltis
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Homework Statement


A point light source is used in a Double Slit experiment. The light source contains two wavelengths(500nm and 600nm).

Separation of the two slits d=1mm. Two sets of interference fringes are formed on a screen. Find the angles θ where bright fringes are formed for both the wavelengths on the screen.

Homework Equations


d sin θ= ΔL = +- mλ (bright fringes)

The Attempt at a Solution


The question asked for angles. From the fringes created from the 500nm and 600nm waves. How many though, I don't know. So the first thing I tried to do was find out how many fringes there will be since it would give me the values of "m" and hence, the angles involved in each value of "m".

And here, I have no idea how.
 
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Assume m = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... etcetera !
Ignore single slit difffraction pattern (no info given -- assume narrow enought).
 
BvU said:
Assume m = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... etcetera !
Ignore single slit difffraction pattern (no info given -- assume narrow enought).

Hello, BvU, thanks for replying. But I wouldn't know "m" goes how high?

If I use m=0, m=1, m=2, I will get 6 angles, 3 from each wavelength. If I use m=3 too, I get more angles as the answer. So how many values of m should I use? The question didn't specify.

I mean, technically there are an infinite amount of fringes right? And hence, angles.
 
JohnGaltis said:
technically there are an infinite amount of fringes right
Nope. It stops by the time ##\theta = {\pi\over 2}## :smile:.

But I think an answer in the form of ##\theta = \arcsin \left (m\lambda\over d\right )## with ##m = 0, \pm 1, \pm 2, ... ## should be acceptable. If you then complete with: for ## m << {d\over \lambda} ## the values are ##\theta = 0, ... ## and fill in##m = 0, \pm 1, \pm 2, ... ## for both ##\lambda## you are covered on all sides (:rolleyes: unless this is a computerized exercise ?).
 
BvU said:
Nope. It stops by the time ##\theta = {\pi\over 2}## :smile:.

But I think an answer in the form of ##\theta = \arcsin \left (m\lambda\over d\right )## with ##m = 0, \pm 1, \pm 2, ... ## should be acceptable. If you then complete with: for ## m << {d\over \lambda} ## the values are ##\theta = 0, ... ## and fill in##m = 0, \pm 1, \pm 2, ... ## for both ##\lambda## you are covered on all sides (:rolleyes: unless this is a computerized exercise ?).

Oh yeah sheesh, it ends at 90 degrees. And yes, that would work. Thanks for the clarification, BvU.
 

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