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Double Slit Project 2

This document summarizes a physics investigatory project on Young's double slit experiment conducted by three students. It includes an introduction describing Thomas Young's pioneering experiment in 1801 that demonstrated the wave-like nature of light. The document then covers the theory behind wave interference, a description of the double slit experiment, derivations of the positions and widths of interference fringes, and conclusions. It acknowledges the teachers and resources used and provides a bibliography.

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mnaqash272000
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67 views18 pages

Double Slit Project 2

This document summarizes a physics investigatory project on Young's double slit experiment conducted by three students. It includes an introduction describing Thomas Young's pioneering experiment in 1801 that demonstrated the wave-like nature of light. The document then covers the theory behind wave interference, a description of the double slit experiment, derivations of the positions and widths of interference fringes, and conclusions. It acknowledges the teachers and resources used and provides a bibliography.

Uploaded by

mnaqash272000
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Young’s Double Slit

Session 2023-2024

Physics Investigatory Project


Made by:

1:Naqash
2:Aqil
3:Lezin

Submitted to :
Index
1. Acknowledgment

2. Certificate

3. Introduction

4. Theory

5. Derivation

6. Conclusion

7. Bibliography
Acknowledgment
Acknowledgment to be added
Certificate
Certificate to be added
Context and introduction for the
experiment

Thomas Young was an English polymath known


for his significant contributions in various
fields. Born in 1773, Young made
groundbreaking strides in the study of light
and vision. One of his most notable
achievements was the double-slit experiment,
a pivotal demonstration that showed the wave
nature of light.
In 1801, Young conducted the double-slit
experiment, which involved passing light
through two closely spaced slits onto a
screen. The result was an interference
pattern, indicating that light behaves as a
wave. This challenged the prevailing view
that light was made up of particles. Young’s
experiment fundamentally contributed to the
understanding of the wave-particle duality of
light and laid the groundwork for quantum
mechanics.
His work in this experiment not only impacted
the understanding of light but also
significantly influenced various scientific
fields, including quantum mechanics and the
nature of matter itself. Young's
contributions to the study of light remain a
cornerstone in the history of science.
The experiment
In the double-slit experiment. light
is passed through two closely spaced
slits, leading to the emergence of
an interference pattern on a screen
placed beyond the slits. This
pattern showcases the characteristic
behaviors of wave interference. The
experiment conclusively illustrated
the wave-like nature of light,
challenging the prevailing notion
that light solely exhibited particle
characteristics. The interference
pattern formed from the interaction
of light waves through the slits
confirmed the wave properties of
light, fundamentally altering
scientific understanding
Theory
In double slit experiment it is concluded for the experiment to be understood it was to be
agreed that light has wave like properties such as destructive and constructive
interference of waves. Constructive interference occurs when two waves meet crest to crest
or trough to trough, resulting in their amplitudes adding up. This creates a wave with a
larger amplitude, leading to a brighter light or a louder sound.

Destructive interference, on the other hand, happens when a crest meets a trough, causing
the waves to cancel each other out. This results in a reduced or complete absence of light
or sound at that point.

Both phenomena depend on the phase relationship between the waves. When they are 'in
phase' during constructive interference or 'out of phase' during destructive interference,
the resulting wave amplitudes change accordingly.
From the visual it is
understood that in waves
which are over the other
that is constructive
interference a beam of light
is observed. However of the
waves which are not over
each other that is
destructive interference of
waves it is understood that
the waves would cancel each
out and no light will be
seen on the screen
Derivation
Consider a monochromatic light source ‘S’
kept at a considerable distance from two
slits: s1 and s2. S is equidistant from s1
and s2. s1 and s2 behave as two coherent
sources as both are derived from S.

The light passes through these slits and


falls on a screen which is at a distance ‘D’
from the position of slits s1 and s2. ‘d’ is
the separation between two slits.

If s1 is open and s2 is closed, the screen


opposite to s1 is closed, and only the screen
opposite to s2 is illuminated. The
interference patterns appear only when both
slits s1 and s2 are open When the slit
separation (d) and the screen distance (D)
are kept unchanged, to reach P, the light
waves from s1 and s2 must travel different
distances. It implies that there is a path
difference in Young’s double slit experiment
between the two light waves from s1 and s2
Approximation of Young’s double slit experiment
Approximation 1:D > > d: Since D > > d, the two light rays are assumed to be parallel.

Approximation 2: d/λ >> 1: Often, d is a fraction of a millimetre, and λ is a fraction of a micrometre for
visible light.

Under these conditions, θ is small. Thus, we can use the approximation sin θ = tan θ ≈ θ = λ/d.

∴ path difference, Δz = λ/d

This is the path difference between two waves meeting at a point on the screen. Due to this path difference in
Young’s double slit experiment, some points on the screen are bright, and some points are dark.

Now, we will discuss the position of these light and dark fringes and fringe width
Position of bright fringes in the screen
For maximum intensity or bright fringe to be formed at P,

Path difference, Δz = nλ (n = 0, ±1, ±2, . . . .)

i.e., xd/D = nλ
x = nλD/d

The distance of the nth bright fringe from the centre is

xn = nλD/d

Similarly, the distance of the (n-1)th bright fringe from the centre is

x (n-1)= (n -1)λD/d

Fringe width, β = xn – x (n-1) = nλD/d – (n -1)λD/d = λD/d

(n = 0, ±1, ±2, . . . .)
Position of dark fringes in the screen
For minimum intensity or dark fringe to be formed at P,

Path difference, Δz = (2n + 1) (λ/2) (n = 0, ±1, ±2, . . . .)

i.e., x = (2n +1)λD/2d

The distance of the nth dark fringe from the centre is

xn = (2n+1)λD/2d

Similarly, the distance of the (n-1)th bright fringe from the centre is

x (n-1)= (2(n-1) +1)λD/2d

Fringe width, β = xn – x (n-1) = (2n + 1) λD/2d – (2(n -1) + 1)λD/2d = λD/d

(n = 0, ±1, ±2, . . . .)
Fringe width
The distance between two adjacent bright (or dark) fringes is called the fringe width.

β = λD/d

If the apparatus of Young’s double slit experiment is immersed in a liquid of refractive index (μ), then the
wavelength of light and fringe width decreases ‘μ’ times.

If white light is used in place of monochromatic light, then coloured fringes are obtained on the screen,
with red fringes larger in size than violet.
Intensity of light in screen
Conclusion of Young’s double slit experiment
Young’s double slit experiment was the cornerstone of the understand of dual nature of
light. It totally scrapped the idea that light was made up of particles like suggested by
Sir Isaac Newton and instead took a approach more on the side of Christian Huygens who
proposed light has wave like nature to it. It is an simple experiment yet it gives us a
clear answers to the century old question of light.
Bibliography

1. Teachers
2. NCERT Test book
3. School notes
4. Group mates
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment

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