Physics I / Wave Optics: Interference and Diffraction
Practice question · True or false

In Young's double-slit experiment, bright fringes occur where the path difference is a half-integer number of wavelengths.

Hints
  1. Which condition makes waves reinforce?
  2. Whole wavelengths arrive in step.
Show the answer

False

Why

False. Whole-wavelength path differences arrive in phase and give the bright fringes; half-integer differences arrive antiphase and give the dark ones. Getting the condition the wrong way round inverts the entire pattern, and the fringe spacing λL/d\lambda L/d is what turns it into a measurement of wavelength.

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