University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 35 - Interference - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 1179: Q35.3

Answer

No, the fringes are not equally spaced.

Work Step by Step

Equation 35.4 gives the angle at which the fringes occur. As m increases, the angle changes in a complicated, nonlinear way and the spacing between adjacent fringes on the screen is not constant. If the screen is very far from the slits and the distance is large compared to $y_m$, the spacing appears to be constant, but strictly speaking, it is not. For small angles only, equation 35.6 gives the spacing from the centerline, and there, for small m, the spacing is approximately constant.
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