12 Engineering Physics

È ( x - d )2 ˘
D 2 Í1 + n ˙
Î D2 ˚
1/2
È ( x - d )2 ˘
AP = D Í1 + n ˙
Î D2 ˚
È 1 ( xn - d ) 2 ˘
AP = D Í1 + ˙ , [as (xn - d ) << D ]
Î 2 D2 ˚
1 ( xn + d )2
AP = D + (ii) [By using Binomial Theorem]
2 D
Similarly, in DBMP,
1 ( xn + d ) 2 (iii)
BP = D +
2 D
Hence, the path difference between the waves reaching via AP and BP paths at the point P on the screen
È 2˘ È 2˘
D = BP - AP = Í D + 1 ( xn + d ) ˙ - Í D + 1 ( xn - d ) ˙
Î 2 D ˚ Î 2 D ˚
4x d
= n
2D
2d
D= xn (iv)
D
Condition for Bright Fringes: In order to interfere constructively and produce bright fringes, the two rays
should arrive at points P in phase. This is possible if the path difference is an integral multiple of l. Therefore,
D = nl
2d
xn = nl where n = 0, 1, 2 ……
D
nl D
xn = (v)
2d
Here it may be recalled that xn is the distance of the nth order bright fringe from the central maxima.
The distance of the next (n + 1)th maximum from the point C can be calculated by replacing n by n + 1 in
equation (v). Therefore,
lD
x( n +1) = (n + 1)
2d
The separation between two consecutive maxima gives the fringe width b, as follows
b = xn+1 – xn
or fringe width
lD
b= (vi)
2d