Waves from two slits are in phase at the slits and travel to a distant screen to produce the third side maximum of the interference pattern. The difference in the distance traveled by the waves is:
A) half a wavelength
B) a wavelength
C) three halves of a wavelength
D) two wavelengths
E) five halves of a wavelength

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For the third side maximum in an interference pattern, the path difference must be an odd multiple of half wavelengths. The third maximum corresponds to a path difference of five halves of a wavelength.

Waves from Two Slits Are in Phase at the Slits