Question 13 Marks
Consider a two $-$ slit interference arrangements $($Figure$)$ such that the distance of the screen from the slits is half the distance between the slits. Obtain the value of $D$ in terms of $\lambda$ such that the first minima on the screen fall at a distance $D$ from the center $O$.


Answer
View full question & answer→According to $\theta$
$ d = D \text { (Given) ...(i) }$
$\ D=\frac{1}{2} d \text { (Given) ...(ii) }$
$d=2D$
Path difference at $P = S _2 P - S _1 P$
Path difference $p=\sqrt{D^2+\left(x+\frac{d}{2}\right)^2}-\sqrt{D^2+\left(x-\frac{d}{2}\right)^2}$
Substitute the value of $d$ and $x$ from $(i)$ and $(ii)$
$=\sqrt{\left.D^2+(D)+D\right)^2}-\sqrt{D^2+(D-D)^2}$
$=\sqrt{5 D^2}-\sqrt{D^2}$
$p=D(\sqrt{5}-1)$
The path difference for $n$ the dark fringe from central maxima $O$ is $(2 n-1) \frac{\lambda}{2}$
$\therefore$ For $1^{st}$ minima $p=\frac{\lambda}{2}$
Put the value of $p$ in $(iii)$
$\frac{\lambda}{2}=D(\sqrt{5}-1)$
$D=\frac{\lambda}{2(\sqrt{5}-1)}$
Rationalizing the denominator, we get,
$D=\frac{\lambda}{2(\sqrt{5}-1)} \times \frac{(\sqrt{5}+1)}{(\sqrt{5}+1)}$
$=\frac{(2.236+1)}{2 \times(5-1)} \lambda=\frac{3.236}{2 \times 4} \lambda$
$=\frac{3.236}{8} \lambda=0.404 \lambda$
$ d = D \text { (Given) ...(i) }$
$\ D=\frac{1}{2} d \text { (Given) ...(ii) }$
$d=2D$
Path difference at $P = S _2 P - S _1 P$
Path difference $p=\sqrt{D^2+\left(x+\frac{d}{2}\right)^2}-\sqrt{D^2+\left(x-\frac{d}{2}\right)^2}$
Substitute the value of $d$ and $x$ from $(i)$ and $(ii)$
$=\sqrt{\left.D^2+(D)+D\right)^2}-\sqrt{D^2+(D-D)^2}$
$=\sqrt{5 D^2}-\sqrt{D^2}$
$p=D(\sqrt{5}-1)$
The path difference for $n$ the dark fringe from central maxima $O$ is $(2 n-1) \frac{\lambda}{2}$
$\therefore$ For $1^{st}$ minima $p=\frac{\lambda}{2}$
Put the value of $p$ in $(iii)$
$\frac{\lambda}{2}=D(\sqrt{5}-1)$
$D=\frac{\lambda}{2(\sqrt{5}-1)}$
Rationalizing the denominator, we get,
$D=\frac{\lambda}{2(\sqrt{5}-1)} \times \frac{(\sqrt{5}+1)}{(\sqrt{5}+1)}$
$=\frac{(2.236+1)}{2 \times(5-1)} \lambda=\frac{3.236}{2 \times 4} \lambda$
$=\frac{3.236}{8} \lambda=0.404 \lambda$



