Light of wavelength 5.0 10⁻⁷ m is emitted in phase from two narrow slits. An interference pattern is formed on a screen placed 1.0 m away. Determine the separation between the sources required to yield a separation of 1.0 mm between consecutive maxima.

Step-by-step solution

The separation between consecutive maxima is the fringe width, given by the formula: = D d Rearranging for the separation between the sources d : d = D Substituting the given values = 5.0 10⁻⁷ m , D = 1.0 m , and = 1.0 mm = 1.0 10⁻³ m : d = 5.0 10⁻⁷ 1.0 1.0 10⁻³ d = 5.0 10⁻⁴ m Converting to millimeters: d = 0.50 mm