When a thin transparent mica sheet of thickness and refractive index is introduced into the path of one of the interfering beams in a Young's double-slit experiment, by what distance is the central fringe shifted on the screen?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C.
- Step 1: The introduction of the transparent sheet introduces an extra optical path length: .
- Step 2: For the central maximum, the total path difference must remain zero, requiring a compensating geometric path difference .
- Step 3: Solve for the lateral shift: .
Answer
.
Why not the others: forgets to subtract the optical path in air replaced by the sheet (); inverts the ratio ; places in the denominator.
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