Question 221: Wave Optics

Question

The difference in the number of waves when yellow light propagates through air and vacuum columns of the same thickness is one. The thickness of the air column is ___________ mm. [Refractive index of air = 1.0003, wavelength of yellow light in vacuum = 6000 $$\mathop A\limits^o $$]

Accepted Answer

Thickness t = n$$\lambda$$
So, n $$\lambda$$
vac
= (n + 1) $$\lambda$$
air
n $$\lambda$$ = (n + 1) $${\lambda  \over {{\mu _{air}}}}$$
n = $${1 \over {{\mu _{air}} - 1}} = {{{{10}^4}} \over 3}$$
t = n$$\lambda$$
$$ = {{{{10}^4}} \over 3} 	imes 6000\mathop A\limits^o $$
= 2 mm

Wave Optics

The difference in the number of waves when yellow light propagates through air and vacuum columns of the same thickness is one. The thickness of the air column is ___________ mm. [Refractive index of air = 1.0003, wavelength of yellow light in vacuum = 6000 $\mathop A\limits^o $]

Integer / Numeric Answer Type