Slit Experiments - AP Physics 2
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What did the double-slit experiment (also called Young's Experiment) demonstrate?
What did the double-slit experiment (also called Young's Experiment) demonstrate?
The process for the double-slit experiment consisted of a coherent light source aimed at a screen with a plate with two parallel slits in between them. The light traveled through each of the slits and had wave-interference (destructive and constructive interference) to produce bands of alternating light and dark along the screen. This result would not be expected if light consisted solely of particles, as was classically thought. This showed that light is a wave, because waves interfere in that manner. The light also was found to be hitting the screen at discrete points as individual particles (photons), with the alternating bands indicating the density of the particles that hit the screen. In versions of the experiment that featured detectors at the slits, the photon passed through a single slit (as would a particle) and not both (as would a wave). These outcomes demonstrate the wave-particle duality of light.
The process for the double-slit experiment consisted of a coherent light source aimed at a screen with a plate with two parallel slits in between them. The light traveled through each of the slits and had wave-interference (destructive and constructive interference) to produce bands of alternating light and dark along the screen. This result would not be expected if light consisted solely of particles, as was classically thought. This showed that light is a wave, because waves interfere in that manner. The light also was found to be hitting the screen at discrete points as individual particles (photons), with the alternating bands indicating the density of the particles that hit the screen. In versions of the experiment that featured detectors at the slits, the photon passed through a single slit (as would a particle) and not both (as would a wave). These outcomes demonstrate the wave-particle duality of light.
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Suppose a light with a wavelength of 
passes a pair of slits with a separation of 
. Determine the angle which corresponds to the first bright fringe.
Suppose a light with a wavelength of
To determine the angle, use the formula for bright fringes in a two-slit experiment.
Rewrite the equation so that the angle term is isolated.
represents the first bright fringe.
Substitute all the givens and solve for the angle.
To determine the angle, use the formula for bright fringes in a two-slit experiment.
Rewrite the equation so that the angle term is isolated.
Substitute all the givens and solve for the angle.
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Suppose light pass through a slit with a width 
. The diffraction pattern angle is 
for the first dark fringe. What is the light's wavelength?
Suppose light pass through a slit with a width
To solve for the wavelength of the light, use the formula for dark fringes of a single-slit interference.
Rewrite the equation in order to solve for lambda (wavelength). Since this is the first dark fringe, the value of 
.
To solve for the wavelength of the light, use the formula for dark fringes of a single-slit interference.
Rewrite the equation in order to solve for lambda (wavelength). Since this is the first dark fringe, the value of
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What was a result of Young's double slit experiment?
What was a result of Young's double slit experiment?
Young's Double Slit Experiment is famous because it demonstrated that light, theretofore thought of as solely discrete particles called corpuscles, actually had properties of waves in addition to particles. This was demonstrated by the two light beams separated by the note card used by Young constructively and destrucively interfering with each other to form bands of light and darkness, which showed that light acts like a wave. However, the light that reached the wall was made up of discrete points, which could only occur if light also could behave like it was made of particles. Therefore, it was concluded that light can act both like a particle and a wave, known as wave-particle duality.
Young's Double Slit Experiment is famous because it demonstrated that light, theretofore thought of as solely discrete particles called corpuscles, actually had properties of waves in addition to particles. This was demonstrated by the two light beams separated by the note card used by Young constructively and destrucively interfering with each other to form bands of light and darkness, which showed that light acts like a wave. However, the light that reached the wall was made up of discrete points, which could only occur if light also could behave like it was made of particles. Therefore, it was concluded that light can act both like a particle and a wave, known as wave-particle duality.
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Suppose that a diffraction experiment is performed in order to determine the wavelength of light. As light of an unknown wavelength is passed through a 
slit, a diffraction pattern is observed. If the first dark fringe is found to occur at an angle of 
away from the slit, what is the wavelength of this light?
Suppose that a diffraction experiment is performed in order to determine the wavelength of light. As light of an unknown wavelength is passed through a
For this question, we're presented with a scenario in which light is passing through a small slit. In doing so, the light is diffracted, meaning that it is spread out along a viewing screen. In such a case, there will be a central bright fringe, with alternating dark and bright fringes as one moves above and below the central fringe.
In this question, we're told that the size of the slit is 
, and the first of these dark fringes occurs at an angle of 
away from the slit. We're then asked to determine the wavelength of the light based on this information.
First and foremost, we'll need to use the light diffraction equation:
In the above equation, 
represents the wavelength of light, 
represents the length of the slit, and 
represents the location of the dark fringes (it can equal 
). In this case, is equal to one because we're considering the first dark fringe (on the top/bottom of the central fringe).
Now that we have the equation, we can isolate the wavelength term:
Next all we have to do is plug in the values that we know, and we can solve for the wavelength:
For this question, we're presented with a scenario in which light is passing through a small slit. In doing so, the light is diffracted, meaning that it is spread out along a viewing screen. In such a case, there will be a central bright fringe, with alternating dark and bright fringes as one moves above and below the central fringe.
In this question, we're told that the size of the slit is
First and foremost, we'll need to use the light diffraction equation:
In the above equation,
Now that we have the equation, we can isolate the wavelength term:
Next all we have to do is plug in the values that we know, and we can solve for the wavelength:
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Red light (wavelength 
) is sent through a double slit. The slits are 
apart. The light then hits a screen which is 
behind the double slit. How far is the first bright fringe from the second bright fringe?
Red light (wavelength
This question is just a quick application of the double slit formula.
, where 
is the distance the 
bright fringe is from the center of the screen. 
is the wavelength, 
is the distance the slit is from the center of the screen, and 
is the slit width. If you set 
, the value of 
you get is also the distance between each adjacent bright fringe (the first and second are adjacent).
Note-The value we got is very large because of the very small slit width.
This question is just a quick application of the double slit formula.
Note-The value we got is very large because of the very small slit width.
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