Optical Path Difference Calculator

✖Refractive Index is a measure of how much a light beam is bent when it passes from one medium to another, describing the amount of refraction that occurs.ⓘ Refractive Index [RI]			+10% -10%
✖Distance between Slits and Screen is the distance between the slits and the screen in a Young's double-slit experiment, used to measure the interference pattern of light waves.ⓘ Distance between Slits and Screen [D]			+10% -10%
✖Distance between Two Coherent Sources is the distance between two sources that emit waves in phase with each other, resulting in an interference pattern.ⓘ Distance between Two Coherent Sources [d]			+10% -10%

✖Optical Path Difference is the difference in distance traveled by two light waves having the same frequency and initial phase but taking different paths to reach the same point.ⓘ Optical Path Difference [Δ]

⎘ Copy

👎

Formula

LaTeX

Reset

👍

Download Wave Optics Formulas PDF PDF Image

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 difference in distance traveled by two light waves having the same frequency and initial phase but taking different paths to reach the same point.
Refractive Index - Refractive Index is a measure of how much a light beam is bent when it passes from one medium to another, describing the amount of refraction that occurs.
Distance between Slits and Screen - (Measured in Meter) - Distance between Slits and Screen is the distance between the slits and the screen in a Young's double-slit experiment, used to measure the interference pattern of light waves.
Distance between Two Coherent Sources - (Measured in Meter) - Distance between Two Coherent Sources is the distance between two sources that emit waves in phase with each other, resulting in an interference pattern.

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 00.004 seconds)

You are here -

Home » Physics » Wave Optics » Basic Physics » Optics and Waves » Optics » Thin Film Interference and Optical Path Difference » Optical Path Difference

Credits

Created by Payal Priya

Birsa Institute of Technology (BIT), Sindri

Payal Priya has created this Calculator and 600+ more calculators!

Verified by Team Softusvista

Softusvista Office (Pune), India

Team Softusvista has verified this Calculator and 1100+ more calculators!

< Thin Film Interference and Optical Path Difference Calculators

Thin-Film Constructive Interference in Reflected Light

LaTeX Go Constructive Interference = (Integer+1/2)*Wavelength

Thin-Film Destructive Interference in Transmitted Light

LaTeX Go Destructive Interference = (Integer+1/2)*Wavelength

Thin-Film Constructive Interference in Transmitted Light

LaTeX Go Constructive Interference = Integer*Wavelength

Thin-Film Destructive Interference in Reflected Light

LaTeX Go Destructive Interference = Integer*Wavelength

Optical Path Difference Formula

LaTeX Go

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?

Optical path difference is the difference in distance traveled by light in two different paths, considering the refractive index of the medium. It affects how the light waves interfere with each other, influencing the resultant pattern of constructive or destructive interference.

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 formula is defined as a measure of the difference in optical path lengths between two light beams, typically used in interferometry to analyze the properties of light waves and their interactions with matter. 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 formula is defined as a measure of the difference in optical path lengths between two light beams, typically used in interferometry to analyze the properties of light waves and their interactions with matter 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. Refractive Index is a measure of how much a light beam is bent when it passes from one medium to another, describing the amount of refraction that occurs, Distance between Slits and Screen is the distance between the slits and the screen in a Young's double-slit experiment, used to measure the interference pattern of light waves & Distance between Two Coherent Sources is the distance between two sources that emit waves in phase with each other, resulting in an interference pattern.

How to calculate Optical Path Difference?

Optical Path Difference formula is defined as a measure of the difference in optical path lengths between two light beams, typically used in interferometry to analyze the properties of light waves and their interactions with matter 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

Home

FREE PDFs

🔍 Search