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 1078: 82

Answer

The mirror must be moved through a distance of $291\mu\,\mathrm{m}$.

Work Step by Step

Let L be the distance through which the mirror $M_2$ is moved. If $N_1$ is the number of wavelengths in this length of wavelength $\lambda_1$ and $N_2$ that of wavelength $\lambda_2$, then we can write, $2L=N_1\lambda_1$ $2L=N_2\lambda_2$ If the shift in the fringe pattern for $\lambda_1$ must be 1 fringe more than that for $\lambda_2$, we must have $N_1-N_2=1$. I.e., ${2L\over \lambda_1}-{2L\over \lambda_2}=1$ Or, $L={\lambda_2\lambda_1\over 2(\lambda_2-\lambda_1)}$ Substituting the given values of the wavelengths, $\lambda_1=588.9950\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{m}$ and $\lambda_2=589.5924\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{m}$, we get, \begin{align*} L&={589.5924\times 10^{-9}\times 588.9950\times 10^{-9}\over 2(589.5924\times 10^{-9}-588.9950\times 10^{-9})}\\ &={347266.9\times 10^{-9}\over 1.1948}\\ &=290.6\times 10^{-6}\\ &=291\mu\,\mathrm{m} \end{align*} Hence the mirror $M_2$ must be moved through a distance of $291\mu\,\mathrm{m}$.
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