Problems Chapter 8

(1) Two identical loudspeakers are placed on a wall 2.00 m apart. A listener stands 3.00 m from the wall
directly in front of one of the speakers. A single oscillator is driving the speakers at a frequency of 300 Hz.
(a) What is the phase difference in radians between the waves from the speakers when they reach the
observer?
(b) What If? What is the frequency closest to 300 Hz to which the oscillator may be adjusted such that
the observer hears minimal sound? Speed of sound in air = 340 m⁄s.

Solution
(a) The phase difference 𝜙 is related to the path difference ∆𝑟 with
the relation
2𝜋
∆𝜙 = ∆𝑟
𝜆
where 𝜆 is the wavelength of the wave. Since
𝑣 340
𝜆= = = 1.133 m
𝑓 300

the path difference ∆𝑟 = 𝑟2 − 𝑟1 , where

𝑟2 = √32 + 22 = 3.605 m
then
∆𝑟 = 3.606 − 3 = 0.606 m

Then phase difference 𝜙

2𝜋 2(3.14)
∆𝜙 = ∆𝑟 = (0.606) = 3.36 rad
𝜆 1.133

∆𝜙 = 3.36 rad

(b) Destructive Interference occurs when path difference

1
Δ𝑟 = (𝑚 + ) 𝜆
2
where 𝑚 = 0, 1, 2, …
𝜆
When the observer hears minimal sound, this happens at ∆𝑟 =
2
𝜆 = 2∆𝑟 = 2(0.606) = 1.212 m
𝑣 340
𝑓= = = 280.5 Hz
𝜆 1.212

𝑓 ≈ 281 Hz
 (2) A laser beam is incident on two slits with a separation of 0.200 mm, and a screen is placed 5.00 m from
the slits. An interference pattern appears on the screen. If the angle from the center fringe to the first bright
fringe to the side is 0.181°, what is the wavelength of the laser light?

Solution
Givens: 𝑑 = 0.200 mm = 0.200 × 10−3 m, 𝐿 = 5.00 m, 𝜃 = 0.181°,
To calculate the wavelength of the laser light, we can use the formula for the angle of the bright fringe in an
interference pattern:
𝑑 sin 𝜃 = 𝑚𝜆 (1)
𝑚=1
where 𝑚 = 0, ±1, ±2, …
and for first bright fringe 𝑚 = 1, so we get

𝜆 = 𝑑 sin 𝜃 = 0.200 × 10−3 sin 0.181° = 6.318 × 10−7 m 𝑚=0

𝜆 = 631.8 × 10−9 m

𝑚 = −1
𝜆 ≈ 632 nm
 (3) Light of wavelength 620 nm falls on a double slit, and the first bright fringe of the interference pattern is
seen at an angle of 15.0° with the horizontal. Find the separation between the slits.

Solution
Givens: 𝜆 = 620 nm = 620 × 10−9 m, 𝜃 = 15.0°

The formula for the angle of the bright fringe in an interference pattern:
𝑑 sin 𝜃 = 𝑚𝜆
where 𝑚 = 0, ±1, ±2, …., and for first bright fringe 𝑚 = 1, so we get

𝜆 620 × 10−9
𝑑= = = 2.395 × 10−6 m
sin 𝜃 sin 15.0°

𝑑 ≈ 2.4 𝜇m
 (4) Young’s double-slit experiment is performed with 589-nm light and a distance of 2.00 m between the
slits and the screen. The tenth interference minimum is observed 7.26 mm from the central maximum.
Determine the spacing of the slits.

Solution
Givens: 𝜆 = 586 nm = 589 × 10−9 m, 𝐿 = 2.00 m, 𝑦10 = 7.26 mm = 7.26 × 10−3 m

The formula for the dark fringe in an interference pattern:

1
𝑑 sin 𝜃 = (𝑚 + ) 𝜆 (1)
2
where 𝑚 = 0, ±1, ±2, ….,

For small values of 𝜃, sin 𝜃 = tan 𝜃

𝑦𝑚 𝑦𝑚
tan 𝜃 = ⟶ sin 𝜃 =
𝐿 𝐿

Substitute for sin 𝜃 into eq. (1)

𝑦𝑚 1
𝑑 = (𝑚 + ) 𝜆
𝐿 2
For the tenth dark fringe 𝑚 = 9, so we get
𝑦9 1
𝑑 = (9 + ) 𝜆
𝐿 2
The spacing of the slits

1 𝐿 19 2.00
𝑑 = (9 + ) 𝜆 = ( ) (589 × 10−9 ) ( ) ≈ 1.54 × 10−3 m
2 𝑦10 2 7.26 × 10−3

𝑑 = 1.54 mm
 (5) Light with wavelength 442 nm passes through a double-slit system that has a slit separation
𝑑 = 0.400 mm. Determine how far away a screen must be placed so that dark fringes appear directly
opposite both slits, with only one bright fringe between them.

Solution
Givens: 𝜆 = 442 nm = 442 × 10−9 m, 𝑑 = 0.400 mm = 0.400 × 10−3 m,

The formula for the dark fringe in an interference pattern:

1
𝑑 sin 𝜃 = (𝑚 + ) 𝜆
2
where 𝑚 = 0, ±1, ±2, …., for the first dark fringe 𝑚 = 0, so we get

𝜆
𝑑 sin 𝜃 =
2

For small values of 𝜃, sin 𝜃 = tan 𝜃

𝑦𝑚 𝑦𝑚
tan 𝜃 = ⟶ sin 𝜃 =
𝐿 𝐿
We have for 𝑚 = 0
𝑑
𝑦0 =
2
𝑦0 𝜆
𝑑 =
𝐿 2
𝑑 ⁄2 𝜆
𝑑 =
𝐿 2
𝑑⁄2 𝑑 2 (0.400 × 10−3 )2
𝐿=𝑑 = = = 0.362 m
𝜆⁄2 𝜆 442 × 10−9

𝐿 ≈ 36 cm
 (6) Light of wavelength 540 nm passes through a slit of width 0.200 mm.
(a) The width of the central maximum on a screen is 8.10 mm. How far is the screen from the slit?
(b) Determine the width of the first bright fringe to the side of the central maximum.

Solution
Givens: 𝜆 = 540 nm = 540 × 10−9 m, 𝑎 = 0.200 mm = 0.200 × 10−3 m,

(a) The distance between slit and the screen

The formula for the dark fringe in an interference pattern:

𝑎 1
sin 𝜃 = (𝑚 + ) 𝜆
2 2
where 𝑚 = 0, ±1, ±2, …., for the first dark fringe 𝑚 = 0, so we get
𝑦
𝑎 𝜆
sin 𝜃 =
2 2
𝜆
sin 𝜃 = (1)
𝑎
For small values of 𝜃, sin 𝜃 = tan 𝜃

𝑦 𝑦
tan 𝜃 = ⟶ sin 𝜃 =
𝐿 𝐿
𝑤 8.10×10−3
where 𝑤 = 2𝑦 ⟶ 𝑦 = = = 4.05 × 10−3 m
2 2

𝑤 ⁄2
sin 𝜃 =
𝐿
From eq, (1)
𝑤 ⁄2 𝜆
=
𝐿 𝑎

𝑤 ⁄2 𝑤𝑎 (8.10 × 10−3 )(0.200 × 10−3 )

𝐿= = = = 1.5 m
𝜆⁄𝑎 2𝜆 2(540 × 10−9 )

𝐿 = 1.5 m
(a) The width of the first bright fringe to the side of the central maximum.
𝑦
The formula for the dark fringe in an interference pattern:

𝑎
sin 𝜃 = 𝑚𝜆 𝑦′
2
where 𝑚 = 0, ±1, ±2, …., for the first dark fringe 𝑚 = 1, so we get 𝑦

𝑎
sin 𝜃 = 𝜆
2
2𝜆
sin 𝜃 =
𝑎
For small values of 𝜃, sin 𝜃 = tan 𝜃

𝑦′ 𝑦′
tan 𝜃 = ⟶ sin 𝜃 =
𝐿 𝐿
then
𝑦′ 2𝜆 2𝜆 2(540 × 10−9 )
= ⟶ 𝑦′ = 𝐿= (1.5) = 8.10 × 10−3 m
𝐿 𝑎 𝑎 (0.200 × 10−3 )

But we have

𝑤 ′ = 𝑦 ′ − 𝑦 = (8.1 × 10−3 ) − (4.05 × 10−3 ) = 4.05 × 10−3 m

𝑤 ′ = 4.05 mm
 (7) Sound with a frequency of 650 Hz from a distant source, passes through a doorway 1.10 m wide in
a sound-absorbing wall. Find
(a) the number and
(b) the angular directions of the diffraction minima at listening positions along a line parallel to the wall.

Solution
Givens: 𝑓 = 650 Hz , 𝑎 = 1.10 m

The wavelength
𝑣 343
𝜆= = = 0.528 m
𝑓 650

Conditions for different minima

𝜆
sin 𝜃𝑚 = ±𝑚 ,
𝑎
where, 𝑚 = ±1, ±2, ±3, . . . . ..
𝜆
𝜃𝑚 = sin−1 (±𝑚 ),
𝑎

Now

0.528
𝜃1 = sin−1 (±1 ) = ±28.7°
1.10

0.528
𝜃2 = sin−1 (±2 ) = ±73.7°
1.10

0.528
𝜃3 = sin−1 (±3 ) = 𝑛𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡
1.10

Therefore
(a) four minima

(b) angular directions are ±28.7°, ±73.7°