Optical Path Difference Calculator

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Interference of Waves of Two Intensities

✖The refractive index of a medium is defined as how the light travels through that medium. It is a dimensionless measure. It defines how much a light ray can bend when it enters from one medium to the other.ⓘ Refractive Index [RI]			+10% -10%
✖Distance between Slits and Screen or photodetector is the large distance at which the slits and screen in Young's double-slit experiment.ⓘ Distance between Slits and Screen [D]			+10% -10%
✖Distance between Two Coherent Sources is the length at which both coherent sources are placed. Two sources that vibrate with a fixed phase difference between them are said to be coherent.ⓘ Distance between Two Coherent Sources [d]			+10% -10%

✖Optical Path Difference is the product of the geometric length of the path followed by light through a given system, and the refractive index of the medium through which it propagates.ⓘ Optical Path Difference [Δ]

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Formula

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Optical Path Difference

Formula

`"Δ" = ("RI"-1)*"D"/"d"`

Example

`"0.634585"=("1.333"-1)*"20.2cm"/"10.6cm"`

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Optical Path Difference Solution

STEP 0: Pre-Calculation Summary

Formula Used

Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Distance between Slits and Screen/Distance between Two Coherent Sources
Δ = (RI-1)*D/d
This formula uses 4 Variables

Variables Used

Optical Path Difference - Optical Path Difference is the product of the geometric length of the path followed by light through a given system, and the refractive index of the medium through which it propagates.
Refractive Index - The refractive index of a medium is defined as how the light travels through that medium. It is a dimensionless measure. It defines how much a light ray can bend when it enters from one medium to the other.
Distance between Slits and Screen - (Measured in Meter) - Distance between Slits and Screen or photodetector is the large distance at which the slits and screen in Young's double-slit experiment.
Distance between Two Coherent Sources - (Measured in Meter) - Distance between Two Coherent Sources is the length at which both coherent sources are placed. Two sources that vibrate with a fixed phase difference between them are said to be coherent.

STEP 1: Convert Input(s) to Base Unit

Refractive Index: 1.333 --> No Conversion Required
Distance between Slits and Screen: 20.2 Centimeter --> 0.202 Meter (Check conversion here)
Distance between Two Coherent Sources: 10.6 Centimeter --> 0.106 Meter (Check conversion here)

STEP 2: Evaluate Formula

Substituting Input Values in Formula

Δ = (RI-1)*D/d --> (1.333-1)*0.202/0.106

Evaluating ... ...

Δ = 0.634584905660377

STEP 3: Convert Result to Output's Unit

0.634584905660377 --> No Conversion Required

FINAL ANSWER

0.634584905660377 ≈ 0.634585 <-- Optical Path Difference

(Calculation completed in 00.021 seconds)

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< 2 Optical Path Difference Calculators

Optical Path Difference

Go Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Distance between Slits and Screen/Distance between Two Coherent Sources

Optical Path Difference given Fringe Width

Go Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Thickness*Fringe Width/Wavelength

Optical Path Difference Formula

Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Distance between Slits and Screen/Distance between Two Coherent Sources
Δ = (RI-1)*D/d

What is optical path difference ?

In the thin glass slab of thickness t and refractive index μ, and the optical path of the ray increases by t( μ -1 ) where t is the thickness of the slab. So path difference between waves coming from two coherent sources at any point P is Δ = (μ - 1 ) D/d = ( μ -1 )t β / λ.

How to Calculate Optical Path Difference?

Optical Path Difference calculator uses Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Distance between Slits and Screen/Distance between Two Coherent Sources to calculate the Optical Path Difference, Optical path difference or optical distance is the product of the geometric length of the path followed by light through a given system, and the refractive index of the medium through which it propagates. Optical Path Difference is denoted by Δ symbol.

How to calculate Optical Path Difference using this online calculator? To use this online calculator for Optical Path Difference, enter Refractive Index (RI), Distance between Slits and Screen (D) & Distance between Two Coherent Sources (d) and hit the calculate button. Here is how the Optical Path Difference calculation can be explained with given input values -> 0.634585 = (1.333-1)*0.202/0.106.

FAQ

What is Optical Path Difference?

Optical path difference or optical distance is the product of the geometric length of the path followed by light through a given system, and the refractive index of the medium through which it propagates and is represented as Δ = (RI-1)*D/d or Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Distance between Slits and Screen/Distance between Two Coherent Sources. The refractive index of a medium is defined as how the light travels through that medium. It is a dimensionless measure. It defines how much a light ray can bend when it enters from one medium to the other, Distance between Slits and Screen or photodetector is the large distance at which the slits and screen in Young's double-slit experiment & Distance between Two Coherent Sources is the length at which both coherent sources are placed. Two sources that vibrate with a fixed phase difference between them are said to be coherent.

How to calculate Optical Path Difference?

Optical path difference or optical distance is the product of the geometric length of the path followed by light through a given system, and the refractive index of the medium through which it propagates is calculated using Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Distance between Slits and Screen/Distance between Two Coherent Sources. To calculate Optical Path Difference, you need Refractive Index (RI), Distance between Slits and Screen (D) & Distance between Two Coherent Sources (d). With our tool, you need to enter the respective value for Refractive Index, Distance between Slits and Screen & Distance between Two Coherent Sources and hit the calculate button. You can also select the units (if any) for Input(s) and the Output as well.

How many ways are there to calculate Optical Path Difference?

In this formula, Optical Path Difference uses Refractive Index, Distance between Slits and Screen & Distance between Two Coherent Sources. We can use 1 other way(s) to calculate the same, which is/are as follows -

Optical Path Difference = (Refractive Index-1)*Thickness*Fringe Width/Wavelength

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