Question:medium

In Young's double slit experiment, the slits are \(3\,\text{mm}\) apart and are illuminated by light of two wavelengths \(3750\,\text{\AA}\) and \(7500\,\text{\AA}\). The screen is placed at \(4\,\text{m}\) from the slits. The minimum distance from the common central bright fringe on the screen at which the bright fringe of one interference pattern due to one wavelength coincides with the bright fringe of the other is

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For coincident bright fringes in Young's double slit experiment, use \[ n_1\lambda_1=n_2\lambda_2 \] and choose the smallest positive integer values of \(n_1\) and \(n_2\) to find the minimum non-zero distance.
Updated On: Jun 22, 2026
  • \(2\,\text{mm}\)
  • \(3\,\text{mm}\)
  • \(1\,\text{mm}\)
  • \(8\,\text{mm}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Write the condition for coincidence of bright fringes.
In YDSE, the position of the $n$-th bright fringe for wavelength $\lambda$ is: \[ y_n = \frac{n \lambda D}{d} \] For two wavelengths $\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$, bright fringes coincide when: \[ n_1 \lambda_1 = n_2 \lambda_2 \]
Step 2: Substitute the given wavelengths.
Given: $\lambda_1 = 3750\,\text{\AA}$ and $\lambda_2 = 7500\,\text{\AA}$. Note that $\lambda_2 = 2\lambda_1$. So: \[ n_1 \times 3750 = n_2 \times 7500 \implies n_1 = 2n_2 \]
Step 3: Find the minimum order for coincidence.
For the minimum (first non-trivial) coincidence, take the smallest positive integers: $n_2 = 1$ and $n_1 = 2$. (The $n_1 = n_2 = 0$ case is the central maximum, which is not counted.)
Step 4: Calculate the position of coincidence.
Using $n_2 = 1$, $\lambda_2 = 7500\,\text{\AA} = 7500 \times 10^{-10}\,\text{m}$, $D = 4\,\text{m}$, $d = 3\,\text{mm} = 3 \times 10^{-3}\,\text{m}$: \[ y = \frac{n_2 \lambda_2 D}{d} = \frac{1 \times 7500 \times 10^{-10} \times 4}{3 \times 10^{-3}} \]
Step 5: Simplify the calculation.
\[ y = \frac{7500 \times 10^{-10} \times 4}{3 \times 10^{-3}} = \frac{30000 \times 10^{-10}}{3 \times 10^{-3}} = 10000 \times 10^{-7} = 10^{-3}\,\text{m} = 1\,\text{mm} \]
Step 6: State the final answer.
The minimum distance from the central bright fringe at which bright fringes of the two wavelengths coincide is: \[ \boxed{y = 1\,\text{mm}} \]
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