Cambridge International AS Level Physics

Answers to self-assessment questions

Answers to SAQs
Chapter 14
1

7 Wavelength of light used, , and separation of

slits, a, remain the same.
x
x
This means that D1 = D2 . Doubling D means x
1
2
must also double, so separation of fringes
x2 = 3.0mm.

Displacement

resultant

Distance

2 The grid spacing is much smaller than

the wavelength of the microwaves, so the
waves do not pass through. However, the
wavelength of light is much smaller, so it can
pass through unaffected.
3 Two loudspeakers with slightly different
frequencies might start off in step, but they
would soon go out of step. The interference
at a particular point might be constructive at
first, but would become destructive.

1
8 a
x = D
a . Therefore x a , so decreasing a gives
increased x.
b Blue light has shorter wavelength, so x is less
(xis proportional to).
c For larger D, x is greater, so there is a smaller
percentage uncertainty in x (xis proportional
toD).

9 Rearrange = ax
D to give
9

58910 1.20 = 3.5mm

x = D
a =
0.0002

10

(or wavelength is 34 of previous value, so

spacing of fringes is 34 of previous value)

Displacement

Displacement

Time

12

a Rearrange dsin = n so
3.3310

b For n = 3, sin = 0.522, so = 31.5

For n = 4, sin = 0.697, so = 44.2
For n = 5, sin = 0.871, so = 60.6
You cannot have sin > 1. So there are 11
maxima.

Time

resultant

For the second-order maximum, rays from

adjacent slits have a path difference of 2, so
they are in phase.
9
258010 = 0.348, so = 20.4
sin = n
6
d =

resultant

Displacement

11

resultant

6.010

4 The intensity would increase.

5

D and a are fixed. So x1 = x2 and so

1
2
7
3
4.510
2.410
= 1.8103m = 1.8mm
x2 =
7

13

Time

6 D: dark fringe, because rays from slits 1 and

2 differ in path length by one-and-a-half
wavelengths (1 12 ).
E: bright fringe, because the path difference
is 2.

a increases, so the maxima are more spread
out and there may be fewer of them. (Note:
sin .)
b d decreases, so again increases, the
maxima are more spread out and there may
be fewer of them. (Note: sin 1/d.)

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014

Cambridge International AS Level Physics

14

Answers to self-assessment questions

a By calculation, use = ax
D so fringe separation
9
54610 0.80 = 0.87mm
x = D
3
a =

0.5010

so ten fringes have a total width of 8.7mm.

But using a ruler, the student will measure
9mm.
b Separation of lines in grating
1 cm
= 3000

= 3.33106m.
By calculation, rearrange dsin = n so
9
254610 = 0.328
sin = n
=
6
d

3.3310

so = 19.1, but the student will measure 19.

c For the double-slit experiment, a measured
width of 9mm for ten fringes will give a
wavelength of 562nm. For the diffraction
grating experiment, the measured secondorder angle of 19 will give 543nm. Hence the
diffraction grating method is more accurate.
In practice, it is also much more precise
because the fringes are bright and sharp
(well-defined).
15

a For red light, rearrange dsin = n so
9
170010 = 0.350, so
sin = n
6
d =

2.0010

red=20.5
For violet light, rearrange dsin = n so
9
140010 = 0.200, so
sin = n
6
d =

2.0010

violet=11.5
Therefore angular separation
= 20.511.5 = 9.0.
b The third-order maximum for violet light is
deflected through a smaller angle than the
second-order maximum for red light.

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014