Light of wavelength 500 nm illuminates parallel slits and produces an interference pattern on a screen that is 1 m from the slits. In terms of the initial intensity I₀, the light's intensity in the interference pattern at a point for which the path difference is 100 nm is A) 2.62 I₀. B) 2.87 I₀. C) 3.08 I₀. D) 3.31 I₀. E) 4.39 I₀.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The intensity of light in an interference pattern is given by I = I₀(1 + cos(2πΔx/λ)), where Δx is the path difference and λ is the wavelength. For Δx = 100 nm and λ = 500 nm, the intensity is I = I₀(1 + cos(2π(100/500))) = I₀(1 + cos(2π/5)) ≈ 2.62 I₀.

Light of Wavelength 500 Nm Illuminates Parallel Slits and Produces