Waves, Sound and Light: Light Waves

Light Waves: Audio Guided Solution

Extra Problem 20:

Monochromatic light with a wavelength of 636 nanometers passes through two slits and produces a two-point source interference pattern on a screen located 18.5 meters away. The fourth dark band is located 9.81 centimeters from the central anti-node. Determine the slit separation (in micrometers).

 

Audio Guided Solution

Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

An effective problem solver by habit approaches a physics problem in a manner that reflects a collection of disciplined habits. An effective problem-solver...

• ... reads the problem carefully and developd a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
• ... identifies the known and unknown quantities and record in an organized manner, often times they can be recorded on the diagram itself; equates given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity (e.g., v = 3.00x10⁸ m/s, λ = 554 nm, f = ???).
• ... uses physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
• ... identifies the appropriate formula(s) to use.
• ... performs substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

 

Read About It!

The following pages from The Physics Classroom Tutorial may serve to be useful in assisting you in the understanding of the concepts and mathematics associated with these problems.

• The Speed of a Wave
• The Wave Equation
• The Electromagnetic and Visible Spectra
• Anatomy of a Two-Point Source Interference Pattern
• The Path Difference
• Young's Equation
• Young's Experiment
• Other Applications of Two Point Source Interference

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