Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 35 - Interference - Problems - Page 1075: 13a

Answer

When they emerge, the phase difference is $~~0.833$

Work Step by Step

We can write a general expression for the wavelength $\lambda'$ in a material with an index of refraction of $n$: $\lambda' = \frac{\lambda}{n}$ We can find the difference in the number of cycles $\Delta N$ of each wave after traveling a distance of $L_1$: $\Delta N = (\frac{L_2}{\lambda/n_2}+\frac{L_1-L_2}{\lambda/1.00})-\frac{L_1}{\lambda/n_1}$ $\Delta N = (\frac{n_2~L_2}{\lambda}+\frac{L_1-L_2}{\lambda})-\frac{n_1~L_1}{\lambda}$ $\Delta N = (\frac{(1.60)(3.50~\mu m)}{600.0~nm}+\frac{0.50~\mu m}{600.0~nm})-\frac{(1.40)(4.00~\mu m)}{600.0~nm}$ $\Delta N = 10.1666- 9.3333$ $\Delta N = 0.833$ When they emerge, the phase difference is $~~0.833~~$ as a multiple of $\lambda$
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