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 1079: 86b

Answer

Intensity is zero when $~~n = 2.2$

Work Step by Step

Note that the phase difference is $\frac{\lambda}{2}$ when $n = 1.4$ because the first minimum occurs when $n = 1.4$ We can find an expression for $L$: $phase~difference = 1.4~L-L = \frac{\lambda}{2}$ $L = \frac{\lambda}{0.8}$ $L = 1.25~\lambda$ We can find $n$ when the phase difference is $(m+0.5)~\lambda$, where $m$ is an integer: $phase~difference = n~L-L = (m+0.5) \lambda$ $n-1 = \frac{(m+0.5) \lambda}{L}$ $n = 1+\frac{(m+0.5) \lambda}{1.25~\lambda}$ $n = 1+0.8~(m+0.5)$ $n = 1.4, 2.2, 3.0,...$ Note that the range of $n$ is $1.0$ to $2.5$ Intensity is zero when $~~n = 2.2$
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