Join the Most Relevant JEE Main 2025 Test Series & get 99+ percentile! Join Now
Search any question & find its solution
Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
If an interference experiment is performed using two wavelengths close to each other, two interference patterns corresponding to the two wavelengths are obtained on the screen. The fringe system remains distinct up to a point on the screen where the nth order maximum of one wavelength falls on the nth order minimum of the other wavelength. Suppose in Young's double sit experiment, sodium light composed of two wavelengths λ1 and λ2 close to each other ( with λ2 greater than λ1 ) is used. The order n, up to which the fringes can be seen on the screen, is given by
PhysicsWave OpticsJEE Main
Options:
  • A n=λ2λ2-λ1
  • B n=λ1λ2-λ1
  • C n=λ22λ2-λ1
  • D n=λ12λ2-λ1
Solution:
1466 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: n=λ22λ2-λ1
If an interference experiment is performed using two wavelengths close to each other, two interference patterns corresponding to the two wavelengths are obtained on the screen. The fringe system remains distinct upto a point on the screen where the nth order maximum of  one wavelength, say λ1=5890 A˙ falls on the nth order minimum of the order wavelength λ2=5895 A˙ . Thus, interference pattern can be seen upto a distance yn from the centre of the screen if

yn=nλ1Dd; nth maximum..(i)

=n-12λ2Dd;nth maximum(ii)

Or nλ1=n-12λ2  or  2nλ1=2n-1λ2

This gives,

n=λ22λ2-λ1 , which is choice n=λ22λ2-λ1

Looking for more such questions to practice?

Download the MARKS App - The ultimate prep app for IIT JEE & NEET with chapter-wise PYQs, revision notes, formula sheets, custom tests & much more.