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Introduction to SAT II Physics - FreeExamPapers

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<strong>SAT</strong> <strong>II</strong> <strong>Physics</strong> questions on optical instruments are generally of two kinds. Either there<br />

will be a quantitative question that will expect you <strong>to</strong> apply one of the two equations<br />

we’ve learned, or there will be a qualitative question asking you <strong>to</strong> determine where light<br />

gets focused, whether an image is real or virtual, upright or upside down, etc.<br />

Wave Optics<br />

As you may know, one of the weird things about light is that some of its properties can be<br />

explained only by treating it as a wave, while others can be explained only by treating it as<br />

a particle. The classical physics that we have applied until now deals only with the particle<br />

properties of light. We will now take a look at some phenomena that can only be<br />

explained with a wave model of light.<br />

Young’s Double-Slit Experiment<br />

The wave theory of light came <strong>to</strong> prominence with Thomas Young’s double-slit<br />

experiment, performed in 1801. We mention this because it is often called “Young’s<br />

double-slit experiment,” and you’d best know what <strong>SAT</strong> <strong>II</strong> <strong>Physics</strong> means if it refers <strong>to</strong><br />

this experiment. The double-slit experiment proves that light has wave properties<br />

because it relies on the principles of constructive interference and destructive<br />

interference, which are unique <strong>to</strong> waves.<br />

The double-slit experiment involves light being shone on a screen with—you guessed it—<br />

two very narrow slits in it, separated by a distance d. A second screen is set up a distance<br />

L from the first screen, upon which the light passing through the two slits shines.<br />

Suppose we have coherent light—that is, light of a single wavelength , which is all<br />

traveling in phase. This light hits the first screen with the two parallel narrow slits, both<br />

of which are narrower than . Since the slits are narrower than the wavelength, the light<br />

spreads out and distributes itself across the far screen.<br />

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