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 1076: 34a

Answer

Point P lies between the central maximum and the first minimum.

Work Step by Step

We can find the angle $\theta$: $\theta =tan^{-1}~(\frac{0.205~m}{4.00~m}) = 0.0512~rad$ The angles of the maxima have the form: $\theta_m = \frac{m~\lambda}{d} = m~\frac{580~nm}{4.50~\mu m} = m~(0.129~rad)$ The angles of the minima have the form: $\theta_m = \frac{(m+0.5)~\lambda}{d} = (m+0.5)~\frac{580~nm}{4.50~\mu m} = (m+0.5)~(0.129~rad)$ Note that the first minimum occurs at the angle $~~0.064~rad$ Since the angle at point P is less than the angle at the first minimum, point P lies between the central maximum and the first minimum.
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