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Name: Physics 132 Wave OpticsWorksheet and Cheatsheet

incident laser

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f gra

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laser

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• Specified by destructive interference condition Δr = (a/2)sin�p = (p/2)�• p is an integer 1, 2, 3...• The first minima on either side of center both correspond to p=1, the next symmetric pair of minima away from the center is p=2, etc• Destructive interference from each single-slit is responsible for groupings or missing maxima observed with 2-slit pattern.

• Typically slit-spacing is small and produces maxima at large angles (can’t use small angle approximation)• Maxima are brighter and more distinct

• Specified by constructive interference condition (Δr = m�)• m is an integer 0, 1, 2, 3...• The center maxima corresponds to m=0. • The first maxima either side of center both correspond to m=1, the next symmetric pair of maxima away from the center is m=2, etc.• �m and ym represent the angle and distance measured along the screen to each maxima, respectively. �3 is the angle from the center maxi-mum to the third maxima out from center on either side. Similarly, y3 is the distance from the center maximum to the third maxima (on either side) as measured along the screen.

2-Slit & Multi-Slit Gratings

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Prominent Equation Sheet Ommissions

Any equation used on an exam that is not provided on the equation sheet must be derived or justified from the provided equation set. This list is not comprehensive.

Fill in the missing labels

a d Δr �m

�1 �2 � y1

y2  Δy L

Single Slit Interference

y

Width wCentralmaximum

p = 1 

p = 1 

p = 2 

p = 2 

p = 3 

p = 3 LightIntensity

SingleSlit

y

0

m = 2

m = 1

m = 0

m = 1

m = 2

N2I0

Grating

m = 2

m = 3

m = 3

m = 4

m = 4

m = 1

m = 0

m = 1

m = 2

Double Slit