Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 22 - Wave Optics - Exercises and Problems - Page 652: 70

Answer

$ \dfrac{2}{3} $

Work Step by Step

We know that the intensity of the double-slit interference pattern at position $y$ is given by $$I=4I_1\cos^2\left(\dfrac{\pi d y}{\lambda L}\right)$$ where we need to find the position at which $I=I_1$ $$\color{red}{\bf\not} I_1=4\color{red}{\bf\not} I_1\cos^2\left(\dfrac{\pi d y}{\lambda L}\right)$$ $$\cos^2\left(\dfrac{\pi d y}{\lambda L}\right)=\dfrac{1}{4}$$ Taking the square root for both sides; $$\cos\left(\dfrac{\pi d y}{\lambda L}\right)=\dfrac{1}{2}$$ Hence, $$\dfrac{\pi d y}{\lambda L}=\cos^{-1}\left( \dfrac{1}{2}\right)$$ So, $$y=\dfrac{\lambda L}{\pi d }\cos^{-1}\left( \dfrac{1}{2}\right)\tag 1$$ Now we need to find the distance to the first minimum $y_0$, where the dark fringe in a double-slit experiment is given by $$y_m=\left(m+\frac{1}{2}\right)\dfrac{\lambda L}{d}$$ The first minimum is at $m=0$ $$y_0=\left(0+\frac{1}{2}\right)\dfrac{\lambda L}{d}$$ Hence, $$y_0=\dfrac{\lambda L}{2d}\tag2$$ To find the needed ratio, divide (1) by (2); $$\dfrac{y}{y_0}=\dfrac{\dfrac{\lambda L}{\pi d }\cos^{-1}\left( \dfrac{1}{2}\right)}{\dfrac{\lambda L}{2d}}=\dfrac{2}{\pi}\;\;\overbrace{\cos^{-1}\left( \dfrac{1}{2}\right)}^{\pi/3}$$ $$\dfrac{y}{y_0}=\color{red}{\bf \dfrac{2}{3} }$$
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