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QJEEM24Ph9099: JEE Main 2024 Physics - Class 12 JEEM24Ph9099 Solution: Two coherent monochromatic light beams of intensities I and are …

Two coherent monochromatic light beams of intensities I and 4 I4 \mathrm{~I} are superimposed. The difference between maximum and minimum possible intensities in the resulting beam is x Ix \mathrm{~I} . The value of xx is __________.

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

When two coherent light beams interfere, the resulting intensity at a point depends on the principle of superposition and is related to their amplitudes. Let the amplitude of the first light beam be A, then its intensity, which is proportional to the square of its amplitude, is given as I∝A2I \propto A^2 . Since intensity is directly proportional to the square of amplitude, for the second beam with intensity 4I4I , its amplitude would be 2A2A , as 4I∝(2A)24I \propto (2A)^2 .

The maximum intensity ( ImaxI_{max} ) occurs when the two beams are in phase and their amplitudes add up constructively, which can be represented as:

Imax∝(A+2A)2=(3A)2=9A2I_{max} \propto (A + 2A)^2 = (3A)^2 = 9A^2

Given that I∝A2I \propto A^2 , substituting this relation to express ImaxI_{max} in terms of II , we get:

Imax=9II_{max} = 9I

The minimum intensity ( IminI_{min} ) occurs when the two beams are completely out of phase, leading their amplitudes to subtract destructively, thus

Imin∝(2A−A)2=A2I_{min} \propto (2A - A)^2 = A^2

Again, using the fact that I∝A2I \propto A^2 , we find that:

Imin=II_{min} = I

Now, the difference between the maximum and minimum intensities in the resulting beam is:

xI=Imax−Imin=9I−IxI = I_{max} - I_{min} = 9I - I

xI=8IxI = 8I

Therefore, the value of xx is 8.

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