Skip to main content

Learning Introductory Physics with Activities

Section 18.8 Practice - Physical Optics

Subsection A*R*C*S Practice

A*R*C*S 18.8.1. Single Slit Pattern.

A \(650 \mathrm{~nm}\) laser illuminates a single slit and is observed on a screen \(1.2 \mathrm{~m}\) behind the slit. The distance between the second minimum on the right and the second minimum on the left is \(11 \mathrm{~mm}\text{.}\) What is the width of the slit?

Subsection Numerical Practice

Calculation 18.8.2. Double-Slit I.

The 3rd bright fringe of a double-slit interference pattern is \(30.0 \mathrm{~cm}\) above the central bright fringe. If the angle from the horizontal (the central bright fringe) to this 3rd bright fringe is \(12.0\) degrees, what is the distance (in meters) between the double slits and the viewing screen?
Answer.
\(1.41 \mathrm{~m}\)

Calculation 18.8.3. Double-Slit II.

A \(500 \mathrm{~nm}\) laser illuminates a double-slit apparatus with a slit separation distance of \(7.73 \mathrm{~\mu m}\text{.}\) What is the angle (in degrees) from the horizontal to the 4th bright fringe?
Answer.
\(15^{\circ}\)

Calculation 18.8.4. Double-Slit III.

A \(680 \mathrm{~nm}\) laser illuminates a double-slit apparatus with a slit separation distance of \(7.83 \mathrm{~\mu m}\text{.}\) On the viewing screen, you measure the distance from the central bright fringe to the 2nd bright fringe to be \(88.2 \mathrm{~cm}\text{.}\) How far away (in meters) is the viewing screen from the double slits?
Answer.
\(5 \mathrm{~m}\)

Calculation 18.8.5. Single-Slit.

A laser of unknown wavelength is used to illuminate a single slit of width \(100 \mathrm{~\mu m}\text{.}\) A viewing screen is placed \(1.50 \mathrm{~m}\) away from the slit. A measurement between the central bright fringe and the 2nd dark fringe yields a result of \(1.95 \mathrm{~cm}\text{.}\) What is the wavelength (in nm) of the laser?
Answer.
\(650 \mathrm{~nm}\)

References References

[1]
  
Numerical practice activities provided by BoxSand: https://boxsand.physics.oregonstate.edu/welcome.