In Young’s double slit experiment performed using a monochromatic light of wavelength λ, when a glass plate (μ = 1.5) of thickness xλ is introduced in the path of the one of the interfering beams, the intensity at the position where the central maximum occurred previously remains unchanged. The value of x will be:
The correct answer is (B) : 2 For the intensity to remain same the position must be of a maxima so path difference must be nλ so (1.5 – 1)xλ = nλ x = 2n (n = 0, 1, 2 …) So, value of x will be x = 0, 2, 4, 6…
Considering two waves interfering at point P, having different distances. Consider a monochromatic light source ‘S’ kept at a relevant distance from two slits namely S1 and S2. S is at equal distance from S1 and S2. SO, we can assume that S1 and S2 are two coherent sources derived from S.
The light passes through these slits and falls on the screen that is kept at the distance D from both the slits S1 and S2. It is considered that d is the separation between both the slits. The S1 is opened, S2 is closed and the screen opposite to the S1 is closed, but the screen opposite to S2 is illuminating.
Thus, an interference pattern takes place when both the slits S1 and S2 are open. When the slit separation ‘d ‘and the screen distance D are kept unchanged, to reach point P the light waves from slits S1 and S2 must travel at different distances. It implies that there is a path difference in the Young double-slit experiment between the two slits S1 and S2.
