What is the wavelength of the incident light?

Question

Emile · Answer

To calculate the wavelength of the incident light, we can use the formula for the interference pattern in a double-slit setup. The dark bands on the screen are formed due to destructive interference between the waves from the two slits. The separation between these dark bands, known as the fringe separation, can help us determine the wavelength of the light.  In this scenario, we are given that the double slits are located 5.0 m away from the screen, and the slits themselves are 0.18 mm apart. The dark bands on the screen are measured to be 1.7 cm apart.  Using the formula for the fringe separation in double-slit interference: λ = (D * d) / L Where: - λ is the wavelength of the incident light - D is the fringe separation (1.7 cm or 0.017 m) - d is the separation between the slits (0.18 mm or 0.00018 m) - L is the distance between the screen and the slits (5.0 m)  Plugging in the values: λ = (0.017 m * 0.00018 m) / 5.0 m λ = 0.00000306 m / 5.0 m λ ≈ 6.12 x 10^-7 m  Therefore, the wavelength of the incident light is approximately 6.12 x 10^-7 meters or 612 nm (nanometers).

Calculating Wavelength of Incident Light Using Double-Slit Interference

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