Two lasers are shining on a double slit, with slit separation d. Laser 1 has a wavelength of d/20, whereas laser 2 has a wavelength of d/15. The lasers produce separate interference patterns on a screen a distance 4.90 m away from the slits.

a. What is the distance Δ ymax-max between the first maxima (on the same side of the central maximum) of the two patterns?
b. What is the distance Δymax-min between the second maximum of laser 1 and the third minimum of laser 2, on the same side of the central maximum?

a)Δy = 81.7mm

b)Δy = 32.7cm

Explanation:

To calculate the distance between any point of the interference pattern, simply use the trigonometric ratio of the tangent:

where  D  is the separation between the slits and the screen where the interference pattern is observed.

a) In this case:

Δy  =  |y1max  (λ1) −  y1max  (λ2)|

Δy =

Δy =

Δy =

Δy =

Δy = 81.7mm

The separation between these maxima is 81.7 mm

b)

Δy  =  |y₂max  (λ1) −  y₂max  (λ2)|

Δy =

Δy =

Δy = 32.7cm

The separation between the maximum interference of the 2nd order (2nd maximum) of the pattern produced by the laser 1 and the minimum of the 2nd order (3rd minimum) of the pattern produced by the laser 2 is 32.7 cm.