A Young's double slit experiment uses a monochromatic source. The shape of the interference fringes formed on a screen is
- (A)hyperbola
- (B)circle
- (C)straight line✓ Correct
- (D)parabola
Answer: (C)
Solution
In Young's experiment the two sources are long, parallel slits, and nothing varies along their length. In any plane taken across the slits the points of equal path difference form a curve, but because the situation is unchanged all along the slit direction, that curve is swept out into a band lying parallel to the slits. Each bright or dark fringe on the screen is therefore a straight line parallel to the slits. Only if the sources were ideal pinholes would the loci of constant path difference show up as hyperbolae.
JEE Main · 2005 · 08 May 2005 · Offline · Single correct option