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: 84f

Answer

A phase difference of $5.80$ is intermediate but closer to maximum.

Work Step by Step

We can find the path length from $S_1$ to $P$: $L_1 = \sqrt{(26.0~\lambda)^2+(6.00~\lambda)^2}$ $L_1 = 26.68~\lambda$ We can find the path length from $S_2$ to $P$: $L_2 = \sqrt{(20.0~\lambda)^2+(6.00~\lambda)^2}$ $L_2 = 20.88~\lambda$ We can find the path length difference: $\Delta L = (26.68~\lambda) - (20.88~\lambda) = 5.80~\lambda$ As a multiple of $\lambda$, the phase difference is $~~5.80$ A maximum occurs when the phase difference is $m~\lambda$ for some integer $m$ A minimum occurs when the phase difference is $(m+0.5)~\lambda$ for some integer $m$ A phase difference of $5.80$ is intermediate but closer to maximum.
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