In: Physics
In a Michelson interferometer, in order to shift the pattern by a half a fringe, one of the mirrors at the end of an arm must be moved by:
a. one wavelength
b. half a wavelength
c. one-quarter wavelength
d. it depends on the wavelength
e. it depends on which mirror is moved
One standard use of the Michelson apparatus is to measure the wavelength of the incident light. One of the mirrors is moved closer or farther away while observing the fringe pattern. As the length of one arm changes, the fringes all move together, either in towards the center or out away from the center. When the pattern moves out by an amount such that each ring lies where the next one out used to be, the pattern is said to have moved by one fringe. Suppose that the pattern moves by N fringes while you move the mirror a distance l. Then the wavelength of the light is given by
Given that the pattern has been shifted only by a half fringe. So N= 1/2=0.5
The distance moved by the arm
Therefore one of the arms at the end should be moved by one - quarter wavelength.(C)