Chapter 24 The Wave Nature Of Light Flashcards
Two rays of light from the same source destructively interfere if their path lengths differ by how much.
1/2 a wavelength b/c the waves would be facing the opposite direction, canceling each other.
What is the evidence that light is energy?
Photosynthesis, plants converting light into food.
Fire, light into heat/ thermal energy
If Young’s double slit experiment were submerged in water, how with the fringe pattern be changed?
The fringes would be closer because light would be moving into a slower medium.
Velocity = lamda • frequency
Decrease speed, decrease wavelength assuming constant frequency
Monochromatic red light is incident on a double slit and the interference pattern is viewed on a screen some distance away. Explain how the fringe pattern would change if the red light source is replaced by a blue light source.
The fringes would be closer b/c blue light has a higher frequency.
V = Lamda • f
Higher frequency, smaller wavelength assuming constant velocity
What is the difference in the interference pattern formed by two slits E-4 cm apart and by a diffraction grating containing E 4 lines/ cm?
The interference pattern formed by 2 slits E-4 cm apart is less bright and crisp. The diffraction grating has different light intensities on different fringes while the interference pattern has fringes of all the same width.
What does polarization tell us about the nature of light?
It tells us that light has an orientation b/c polarization filters only allow waves oriented a particular way to pass through.
