Wave Optics Lab

    Interference & Diffraction

    λ = 550 nm
    Young's Double Slit

    Setup — Source → Slits → Screen

    Screen Pattern & Intensity Curve

    Coloured strip = fringe pattern  |  Solid curve = I(θ)  |  Dashed = single-slit envelope

    Wavelength

    380 nm550 nm700 nm

    Parameters

    Slit separation d4.0μm
    1μm12μm
    Slit width a1.0μm
    0.2μm3μm
    Screen distance L50.0cm
    10cm100cm

    Measurements

    Fringe spacingβ = λL/d = 68750.00 mm
    Condition (bright)d·sinθ = mλ
    Condition (dark)d·sinθ = (m+½)λ
    Missing order at md/a = 4.0

    Physics

    Young's experiment demonstrates wave nature of light. Two coherent sources produce fringes wherever path difference equals a whole number of wavelengths. The slit width a controls the single-slit envelope that modulates the fringe pattern.