Stanford Physics 45 PS9 Solutions
Stanford Physics 45 PS9 Solutions
60 POINTS TOTAL
13 TOTAL POINTS
For a double slit experiment with slits separated by distance d, light of wavelength λ and distance to screen
L the position of maximum on the screen is given by ym = mλL/d. We want the m = 1 maximum so using
the given numbers we find
b. A very thin piece of glass is then placed in one slit. Because light travels slower in glass than in air, the wave
passing through the glass is delayed by 5.0x10−16 s in comparison to the wave going through the other slit. What
fraction of the period of the light wave is this delay?
While passing through the glass the a time delay ∆t is introduced. We have been given the wavelength of the
light, to compare to the period of the wave we must first find the period of the wave using the relationship T
= λ/v. The fraction of the period the light is delayd is than given by
3 POINTS:
1 point for ratio.
1 point for using v and λ
1 point answer.
Page 1
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
c. With the glass in place, what is the phase difference ∆φ0 between the two waves as they leave the slits?
As they leave the slits the one which did not travel through glass is still in the same initial phase it came in
at. The other which traveled through glass has been delayed in time by ∆t introducing a phase difference
difference between the two. At the slits there is no other factor contributing to differences in the phase. We
can find this phase difference between by using
2π 1 π
∆φ = ∆t = 2π =
T 4 2
2 POINTS:
1 point for phase difference expression.
1 point answer.
d. The glass causes the interference fringe pattern on the screen to shift sideways. Which way does the central
maximum move (toward or away from the slit with the glass) and by how far?
Initially, before anything was added, there is the central maximum at y=0 which is the m=0 solution to
part a. This makes sense because the point y=0 is directly between the two slits so there should be 0 path
difference between the two slits at the y=0 point. Once the glass is added though light from one slit now
takes slightly longer to get to the point y=0 so it is out of phase with light from the other slit at y=0. To
make up for this light from the second slit must travel a little farther to make up for the delay in light from
the first slit. Thus intuitively we would expect the maximum to shift away from the slit with no glass so its
light has to travel farther.
We can quantify this by looking at the expression for the total phase difference at a point y on the
screen.
2π 2π
∆φ = ∆r + ∆t
λ T
remembering the equations for the double slit experiment we know ∆r = dθ and θ = y/L and for constructive
interference we want this to be equal to 2πm giving
2π dy 2π
2πm = + ∆t
λ L T
note the signs are both positive so this means we are looking at points which are closer to the slit without
glass since for these points the time delay and distance traveled will both be longer for the slit with glass. We
can solve this for y giving
Lmλ Lλ ∆t
ym,new = −
d d T
from part a we found that ym,old = mλL/d so we can rewrite this as
∆t
ym,new = ym,old − y1,old
T
where y1,old is just what we found in part a so we have shifted the bright spots by
∆t 1
y1,old = (3mm) = 0.75mm
T 4
and since the sign is negative this confirms that the ym have shifted closer to the slit with the glass.
6 POINTS:
1 point for phase difference expression.
1 point solving for ynew .
Page 2
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
6 TOTAL POINTS
In a Michelson interferometer the path difference between the two waves is given by ∆r = 2(L2 - L1 ). We
can relate this to the phase difference using
2π 2π
∆φ = ∆r = (2L2 − 2L1 )
λ λ
for constructive interference we want ∆φ = 2mπ
4π
(L2 − L1 ) = 2mπ
λ
which we can rearrange to give
λm
(L2 − L1 ) =
2
which tells us the spacing between two maximum is λ/2 so if we than move from L2 to L2 + ∆L we will guarantee
we see 1 and only 1 maximum cycle by moving ∆L = λ/2, regardless of were we start. Thus we conclude for
every λ/2 we move we should see a maximum which lets us solve for the total number of bright spots we expect
to see
∆L
∆m =
λ/2
in both cases we see ∆m = 1200 but in one case we use λ1 = 632.8nm and in the other we use λ2 = 656.5nm.
Thus if we go from L2 to L2 + ∆L1 with λ1 than to L2 + ∆L1 - ∆L2 with λ2 we can find how much we are off
by finding
λ1 ∆m λ2 ∆m ∆m 1200
∆L1 − ∆L2 = − = (λ1 − λ2 ) = (632.8nm − 656.5nm) = −14220nm
2 2 2 2
so we are now 14220nm closer to the beam splitter.
6 POINTS:
1 correct interference condition.
2 relate to total number of cycles.
1 solving for change in L.
1 correct answer.
1 correct direction.
Page 3
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
a. In the small-angle approximation, the position of the m=1 peak of a diffraction grating falls at the same location
as the m=1 fringe of a double slit: y1 = λL
d . Suppose two wavelengths differing by ∆λ pass through a grating
at the same time. Find an expression for ∆y, the separation of their first order peaks.
We know that the location of the first peak for the double slit experiment is y1,1 = λ1 L/d for light of
wavelength λ1 and y1,2 = λ2 L/d for light of wavelength λ2 . The difference in these peaks is than
L L
y1,1 − y1,2 = ∆y1 = (λ1 − λ2 ) = ∆λ
d d
2 POINTS:
1 point for setting up.
1 point for correct expression.
b. We noted that the widths of the bright fringes are proportional to 1/N, where N is the number of slits in the
grating. Let’s hypothesize that the fringe width is w = y1 /N. Show that this is true for the double-slit pattern.
We’ll then assume it to be true as N increases.
The width of the peak is defined at the point with half the intensity of the peak. Using Equation 22.14 in
the book we know the intensity of the double slit experiment at position y is given by
2 πd
I = 4I1 cos y
λL
at the maxes y = mλL/d which if we plug in gives
πd mλL
Imax = 4I1 cos2 = 4I1 cos2 (mπ) = 4I1
λL d
since cos(mπ) = ±1 for m = integer. If we want the point where this is halved we want to solve
2 πd
2I1 = 4I1 cos yhalf
λL
for yhalf which gives
Lλ 1 Lλ π Lλ y1
yhalf = arccos √ = = =
dπ 2 dπ 4 4d 4
and w = 2yhalf = y1 /2. We can check this against the hypothesis which was that w = y1 /N which for 2
slits (N=2) giving w = y1 /2 which agrees with where the intensity is halved so our hypothesis is good for the
case N=2.
5 POINTS:
1 point for intensity.
1 point for max intensity.
1 point for setting up equation.
1 point for solving for yhalf .
1 point proving hypothesis
Page 4
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
c. Use your results from parts a and b together with the idea that ∆ymin = w to find an expression for ∆λmin the
minimum wavelength separation (in first order) for which the diffraction fringes can barely be resolved.
We can combine these two results to find the minimum wavelength separation we can resolve for which a
diffraction grating with N slits can resolve. We have ∆y from part a and in part b we found the width in
terms of y1 . And we know that the minimum ∆y we can resolve is w
y1 L
w = ∆ymin = = ∆λmin
N d
which we can solve for λmin remebering that y1 = λL/d
d d λL λ
λmin = y1 = =
NL NL d N
here λ is the λ with the smallest width since ymin must not be larger than the smallest w. Since w scales
with λ the smallest w occurs for the smallest λ.
3 POINTS:
1 point for combining part a and b.
1 point plugging in y1 .
1 point final expression.
d. Ordinary hydrogen atoms emit red light with a wavelength of 656.45nm. In deuterium, which is a ”heavy”
isotope of hydrogen, the wavelength is 656.27nm. What is the minimum number of slits in a diffraction grating
that can barely resolve these two wavelengths in the first-order diffraction pattern?
Plugging into the expression from c using λ = 656.27nm and ∆λ = 656.45mm - 656.27nm = 0.18nm we can
solve for N
λ 656.27nm
N= = = 3646
∆λ 0.18nm
so we need at least 3646 slits to see this.
2 POINTS:
1 point plugging in numbers. (Can use either wavelength since its not obvious and they only differ by 1 slit.)
1 point correct answer.
1. The figure shows paths 1 and 2 along which two waves travel and interfere. Find an expression for the
path-length difference ∆r = r2 − r1 .
14 TOTAL POINTS
Lets zoom in on 2 gratings next to each other and their corresponding incident and reflected waves. For
both gratings the incident waves come in at angle φ. For grating 2 the wave reflects off one of the grating
and travels a distance r2 to catch up with the wavefront of the reflection at the first grating. At the point
of reflection of wave 2 we can find the corresponding point in the first waves wave front. Wave 2 travels a
distance r1 from this point to the point where it gets reflected at its own grating.
Page 5
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
Looking at the geometry of this we see r2 = dsin(θ) and r1 = dsin(φ). We can than use this to
determine the path difference between the two waves.
∆r = r2 − r1 = d (sin θm − sin φ)
3 POINTS:
1 point for r1 .
1 point for r2 .
1 point for ∆r
2. Using your result from part a, find an equation (analogous to Equation 22.15) for the angles θm at which
diffraction occurs when the light is incident at angle φ. Notice that m can be a negative integer in your
expression, indicating that path 2 is shorter than path 1.
For diffraction or constructive interference we want to find where the phase difference when these waves
meet up is an integer multiple of 2π
2π 2π
∆φ = ∆r = d (sin θm − sin φ) = 2πm
λ λ
which we can solve for θm giving
mλ
θm = arcsin + sin φ , m = ..., −1, 0, +1, ...
d
2 POINTS:
1 point for ∆φ = 2πm
1 point for θm
Page 6
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
For the 0th order correction we check the m=0 condition giving
θ0 = arcsin (sin φ)
θ0 = arcsin (sin φ) = φ
4. Light of wavelength 500nm is incident at φ = 40◦ on a reflection grating have 700 reflection lines/mm. Find
all angels θm at which light is diffracted. Negative values of θm are interpreted as an angle left of the vertical.
Now we know light comes in with λ = 500nm and φ = 40◦ . If we having 700 reflection lines/mm we have
spacing between gratings of d = 1/700 mm. We can than plug these values into our expression for λm for
different values of m.
m θm (deg) θm (rad)
0 40 0.698
1 83.11 1.451
2 img img
-1 17.02 0.297
-2 -3.28 -0.057
-3 -24.03 -0.419
-4 -49.22 -0.859
-5 img img
for m = -5 we get sin θ5 = -1.107 and for m = 2 sin θ2 = 1.343 but arcsin x is not well defined for number
x > 1. In fact for x > 1 we get complex angles which are not physical so for m > 2 and m < -5 we don’t
need to calculate the angles because they will be unphysical.
5 POINTS:
1 point for finding d.
3 points for filling out table. For this 0 points for nothing right. There are 6 total non imaginary numbers.
1 point <= 3 correct. 2 points > 3 but <= 5. 3 all correct.
1 point for seeing there is a cutoff m in both directions (img entries).
5. Draw a picture showing a single 500nm light ray incident at φ = 40◦ and showing all the diffracted waves at
the correct angles.
Page 7
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
2 POINTS:
2 points correct drawing.
3 TOTAL POINTS
If the laser has been deflected 2mm we can create a triangle with angle 2θ, height y=2.0mm and length
x=5.0mm. The triangle has angle 2θ since its reflection angle is the same as its incident angle so the total angle
is twice the angle we have rotated So we can set relate the angle to x and y using tangent tan(2θ) = y/x. We
can than calculate θ by taking arctan of both sides
2.0 × 10−3 m
1 y 1
θ= arctan = arctan = 0.0002rad = 0.0115◦
2 x 2 5.0m
Page 8
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
Note we are worried about small angles which is confirmed by the fact that x/y is very small so we can see
that the small angle approximation applies here and gives the same answer
2.0 × 10−3 m
1 y 1
θ≈ = = 0.0002rad = 0.0115◦
2 x 2 5.0m
3 POINTS:
1 point using 2θ.
1 point setting up arctan.
1 point solving.
4 POINTS TOTAL.
a. We begin with Snell’s Law:
Page 9
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
Apply the condition that the angle of incidence θ1 is twice the angle of refraction θ2 . It is easier to define it
that way so that we can use the double-angle formula rather than the half-angle formula.
θ1 = 2θ2
sin (2θ2 ) = n sin (θ2 ) (nair = 1.00)
2 sin (θ2 ) cos (θ2 ) = n sin (θ2 ) Double-angle Formula
n
θ2 = arccos 2
n
θ1 = 2 arccos
2
3 POINTS:
1 point using Snell’s Law.
1 point relating the angles of incidence and refraction AND the double-angle formula.
1 point solving for θ1 symbolically.
1 POINT:
1 point for the correct numerical solution.
Page 10
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
8 POINTS TOTAL
We have the distance from the candle to the lens do , the distance from the lens to the image on the wall di , the
focal length f , and the distance from the candle to the screen D.
1 1 1
di + do = f Thin Lens Equation
do = D − di Fixed candle-to-wall distance
1 1 1
di + =
D−di f Combine above 2 eqns
(D − di ) + di = f1 (D − di )(di ) Multiply through by (D − di )(di ).
d2i − Ddi + f D = 0 Rearrange
√
D± D 2 −4f D
di = 2 Quadratic formula
√
2m± (2m)2 −4(0.32m)(2m)
di = 2 = 1.6, 0.4 m Evaluate
In the diagram, the first principal ray (the one that passes through the focal point) forms two similar triangles,
which we can relate by:
ho hi
f = df w
ho df w h0 (di −f )
hi = f = f
0.02m(1.6m−0.32m) 0.02m(1.4m−0.32m)
hi = 0.32m = 0.08m, hi = 0.32m = 0.005m
Page 11
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
mλ
θm = arcsin + sin φ , m = ..., −1, 0, +1, ...
d
where d is the spacing between lines in a grating, λ is the wavelength of our incident light, φ is the reflection
angle, and m is the order.
We are asked to find the first-order diffraction angle, so we substitute:
(1)(550 × 10−9 m)
θm = arcsin + sin(0)
2 × 10−6 m
= arcsin(0.275) = 16.0◦
1. With no voltage applied, is the output bright (switch closed, optical signal passing through) or dark (switch
open, no signal)? Explain.
2π
φair = d
λair
Page 12
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
2π
φcrystal = d
λcrystal
2π
= d
λair /n
∆φ = φcrystal − φair
2π
= d(n − 1)
λair
= 7π
This phase difference is an odd integer of π, which indicates destructive interference, i.e. the output is
dark.
2. What is the first index of refraction of the electro-optic crystal larger than 1.522 that changes the optical
switch to the state opposite the state you found in part a?
We want to set the phase difference to be the first even multiple of π greater than 7π, which is 8π. Using
the result from above
2π
∆φ = d(n − 1) = 8π
λair
4λair
n= + 1 = 1.597
d
Page 13
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
φ + φ = 60◦
Therefore, φ = 30◦
Imagine the laser being reflected off the corner of the hexagon. First we need to know the distance from the
center of the hexagon to its corner, which is ` = 20 cm/ cos(30◦ ). The distance from this corner to the wall is
d = 2 m − `.
Now imagine you rotate the hexagon by a very small angle. The laser beam will either be reflected up or
down. The angle of incidence on the hexagon will be θi = 30◦ . Including the angle of reflection θr = θi = 30◦ ,
the total deflection on the laser beam is θ = θi + θr = 60◦ . This angle projected on the wall produces a length
L = d/ tan(θ) = 3.06 m
Combine both deflection upwards and downwards, the total length of the streak is 2L = 6.1 m.
Page 14
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
3 TOTAL POINTS
If we draw out the triangles we see that the angle off the horizontal that the light hits the top of the box
must be the same as the given angle and the angle of reflection must be the same as the incident angle. We can
than use the geometry to solve for φ using h = 3.0m and w = 5.0
h/2 h
tan(φ) = =
x w−x
which we can solve giving x = 5/3. We can than plug back into either equation and solve for φ
h/2 2h 9
tan(φ) = = =
x 10 10
giving φ = 42◦
3 POINTS:
1 point for getting correct geometry.
1 point for solving for x.
1 point for solving for φ
Page 15
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
We will see one image that is reflected off of only the vertical mirror, another one reflected off of only the
horizontal mirror, and another one reflected first on the vertical mirror, then reflected off of the horizontal
mirror. All together we have 3 images observed at O.
We define our coordinate system to center at the intersection between the two mirrors. The red ball is
located at (−1 m, −2 m). The general idea is a reflection would flip the sign of the coordinates using rules
in coordinate geometry.
4 TOTAL POINTS
Initially the beam is incident in a line which is parallel to line that bisects the mirror so its angle from the
mirror must be 1/2 of 80◦ or 40◦ . Its angle of reflection is than β = 50◦ since this must add to 90◦ .
When it reaches the opposite side its angle off the mirror can be calculated using the triangle 180◦ - 40◦ -
80 = 60◦ . Which means the angle of reflection for the second reflection is α = 30◦ . Finally the angle we want
◦
φ is the angle off a line parallel to the mirror bisection so we want α + φ + 40◦ = 90◦ since the bisection again
has a 40◦ angle from the mirror. This gives a final result of φ = 20◦ .
4 POINTS:
1 point initial angle.
1 point first reflection angle.
Page 16
Physics 45 Department of Physics, Stanford University Autumn 2016
Page 17