– 33 – N04/4/PHYSI/HP2/ENG/TZ0/XX+

(Question B4, part 1 continued)

The diagram below (not drawn to scale) shows an arrangement for observing the interference
pattern produced by the light from two narrow slits S1 and S2.

yn
S1

monochromatic
light source

S2

single
slit
double slit screen

The distance S1S2 is d, the distance between the double slit and screen is D and D p d such
that the angles and shown on the diagram are small. M is the mid-point of S1S2 and it is
observed that there is a bright fringe at point P on the screen, a distance yn from point O on the
screen. Light from S2 travels a distance S2X further to point P than light from S1.

(e) (i) State the condition in terms of the distance S2X and the wavelength of the light ,
for there to be a bright fringe at P. [2]

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.................................................................

(ii) Deduce an expression for in terms of S2X and d. [2]

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(iii) Deduce an expression for in terms of D and yn. [1]

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(Question B4, part 1 continued)

For a particular arrangement, the separation of the slits is 1.40 mm and the distance from the
slits to the screen is 1.50 m. The distance yn is the distance of the eighth bright fringe from
O and the angle h = 2.70 % 10–3 rad.

(f) Using your answers to (e) to determine

(i) the wavelength of the light. [2]

.................................................................
.................................................................
.................................................................

(ii) the separation of the fringes on the screen. [3]

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(Question B4 continued)
Part (f) deals with interference of waves.
(f) In the diagram below S1 and S2 are two continuous harmonic sound sources each of which
emit sound of wavelength 0.70 m. As an instrument that detects sound intensity is moved along
the line AB it registers a series of maximum sound intensities and minimum sound intensities.
The first maximum registered is at X and the first minimum at Y. The distance S1X = S2 X .

............................................................................
Y

S1
............................................................................ X

S2

(i) If the distance S1Y is 3.0 m what is the distance S2 Y equal to? Explain your answer. [2]

.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
(ii) Describe and explain what will happen to the distance between the first maximum and
the first minimum if the frequency of the sound from the two sources is increased. [3]
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.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
(iii) If the frequency of S1 is 440 Hz and the frequency of S2 is altered to 444 Hz describe
quantitatively the nature of the sound detected at X. [2]

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(Question B4 continued)

Part 2 Diffraction and resolution

(a) Plane wavefronts of monochromatic light of wavelength  are incident on a narrow slit.
After passing through the slit they are incident on a screen placed a large distance from
the slit.

θ
bX P

l
(= λ)
screen

slit

The width of the slit is b and the point X is at the centre of the slit. The point M on the
screen is the position of the first minimum of the diffraction pattern formed on the screen.
The path difference between light from the top edge of the slit and light from the bottom
edge of the slit is l.

Use the diagram to explain why the distance l is equal to . [3]

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(Question B4, Part 2 continued)

The wavefronts in (a) are from a monochromatic point source S1. Diagram 1 is a sketch of how
the intensity of the diffraction pattern formed by the single slit varies with angle . The units
on the vertical axis are arbitary.

Diagram 1
1.2
Intensity
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
–10 –5 0 5 10
 / degrees

Another identical point source S2 is placed close to S1 as shown in diagram 2.

Diagram 2

S1

S2

(b) The diffraction patterns formed by each source are just resolved.

On diagram 1 sketch the intensity distribution of the light from source S2. [2]

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(Question B3 continued)

Part 2 Diffraction of light

(a) (i) Describe what is meant by the diffraction of light. [2]

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(ii) A parallel beam of monochromatic light from a laser is incident on a narrow slit.
The diffracted light emerging from the slit is incident on a screen.

screen
slit

parallel light
0.40 mm C
wavelength 620 nm

1.9 m (not to scale)

The centre of the diffraction pattern produced on the screen is at C. On the axes
sketch a graph to show how the intensity I of the light on the screen varies with
the distance d from C. [3]

0
0 d
C

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(Question B3, part 2 continued)

(iii) The slit width is 0.40 mm and it is 1.9 m from the screen. The wavelength of the
light is 620 nm. Determine the width of the central maximum on the screen. [3]

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(b) (i) When two separate lasers are used as sources, the images of the slit formed by
the light from each laser are resolved. State what is meant by the term resolved
in this context. [1]

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(ii) A car, with its two headlights switched on, is approaching an observer who has
good eyesight. Outline why, at a long distance from the observer, the images of
the headlights of the car are not resolved by the observer. [4]

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G3. This question is about interference.

Monochromatic, coherent light is incident on two narrow parallel slits whose widths are small
compared to their separation. After passing through the slits the light is brought to a focus on a
screen producing interference fringes. Point X is the midpoint of the slits.

light

slit

X
slit

screen

The angular position of a point on the screen is determined by the angle θ .

(a) (i) Explain why the intensity of light at θ = 0 will be a maximum. [2]

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(ii) The wavelength of light is 6.80 ×10−7 m and the separation of the slits is
1.13 × 10−4 m  . Show that for the first order maximum θ = 6.02 ×10−3 rad . [1]

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(Question G3 continued)

(iii) On the axes below draw a graph to show how the intensity of light observed on the
screen varies with angle θ . (You do not have to put numbers on the vertical axis.) [3]

Intensity

0 θ /× 10–3 rad
–20 –15 –10 –5 0 5 10 15 20

(b) The two slits are replaced by a large number of slits whose widths and separation are the
same as in (a).

State the changes, if any, in the intensity pattern you drew in (a)(iii) with reference to

(i) the value of the intensity at θ = 0 . [1]

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(ii) the angular position of the points of maximum intensity. [1]

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(iii) the angular width of the fringes. [1]

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