BABU BANARASI DAS NORTHERN INDIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,

LUCKNOW
B. TECH. FIRST SEMESTER 2014-2015
SUBJECT- PHYSICS
UNIT III : INTERFERENCE
SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Q.1 Define coherent sources. Discuss why two independent sources of light of same wavelength
cannot show interference?
A.1 Two sources of light are said to be coherent if they vibrate in same phase or there exists a constant
phase relationship. Two independent sources of light of same wavelength cannot show interference
because they cannot maintain the requirement of constant phase difference between them.
Q.2 State two methods of producing coherent sources of light?
A.2 Two methods of producing coherent sources of light are by
(I)Division of wavefront Fresnels Biprism
(ii) Division of amplitude-Newtons ring
Q.3 What change will you observe in the Youngs double slit experiment pattern if the whole
arrangement is dipped in water?
A.3 If the whole arrangement is dipped in water in Youngs double slit experiment, and then the fringe
width decreases and the fringes come closer due to the change of the refractive index of the medium.
Q.4 State the essential conditions for observing the phenomenon of interference of light.
A.4 The essential conditions for observing the phenomenon of interference of light are as follows
Two sources should be coherent, monochromatic and having nearly same amplitude.
Q. 5 Explain the colours, when a thin film illuminated by white light is observed in reflected light.
A .5 When a thin film is illuminated by white light beautiful colours will be observed. These colours arise
due to the interference of light waves reflected from the upper and lower surfaces of the film.
.
Q.6. Why an extended source is necessary to observe colours in thin film?
A.6 If we employ an extended source, the light reflected by every point of the film reaches the eye.
Hence the entire film can be viewed simultaneously by keeping the eye at one place only.
Q.7 Explain why an excessively thin film appears black and excessively thick film shows no colour
in reflected light?

A.7. For an excessively thin film the effective path difference in reflected light (2tcos r + /2) becomes
/2, as2tcos r is negligible in comparison to /2.This is the condition of minimum intensity for all
wavelengths. Therefore all wavelengths will be absent in reflected system, hence film will appear dark.
Q.8. Explain why an excessively thick film shows no colour in reflected light?
A.8. The bright and dark appearance of reflected light depends upon the values of ,t and r. In case of
white light even if t and r made constant varies with wavelength. At a given point or for any value of r,
due to large thickness (t)a large number of wavelengths can be found to satisfy the condition of
constructive interference for every colour of the spectrum and on the other hand, at the same point
condition of destructive interference is also satisfied for another set of wavelengths. Moreover number of
wavelengths sending the maximum intensity is almost equal to the number of wavelengths sending the
minimum intensity. Also, fringes due to colours satisfying the condition of maximum intensity will
superimpose and produce uniform illumination.
Q.9 Why Newtons rings are circular but air wedge fringes are straight?
A.9 In both Newtons rings and air wedge fringe arrangements, each fringe is the locus of points of equal
thickness of the film. In Newtons rings, the locus of points of equal thickness of air film lie on a circle
with the point of contact as centre. Hence fringes are circular and concentric. In case of air wedge, the
locus of points of equal thickness is straight lines parallel to the edge of the wedge. Hence the fringes are
straight and parallel.
Q.10 Why the center of Newtons rings appears dark in reflected light?
A.10 In case of Newtons rings the effective path difference between the interfering rays is
2tcos(r+)+/2. At the centre t=0 and for a very small angle of wedge cos(r+) =1.Therefore effective
path difference at the point of contact = 2t+/2. At the center t=0, hence effective path difference is /2.
This is the condition of minimum intensity. Hence central spot of the ring system appears dark.
Q.11 What will happen to Newtons rings if a drop of water is introduced between the glass plate
and lens?
A.11 Since diameter of the ring is inversely proportional to the square root of refractive index of the
medium between the planoconvex lens and plane glass plate, therefore as refractive index increases,
diameter of the rings decrease, that is the rings contract.
Q.12 What will happen to Newtons rings if the lens is lifted up slowly from the flat surface?
A.12 As the distance between the lens and the plate is increased or the lens is lifted up slowly from the
flat surface, the order of the ring at a given point increases. The rings, therefore, come closer and closer
until they can no longer be separately observed.
Q.13 What will happen to Newtons rings if monochromatic light is replaced by white light?
A.13 If monochromatic light is replaced by white light in Newtons rings experiment, a few coloured
rings around a black centre are observed and beyond it a uniform illumination is obtained. This is because
the diameter of the ring is directly proportional to square root of wavelength as and white light is
composed of a number of colours, diameter of different rings will be different. In ring pattern violet ring
will be the innermost and red ring will be the outermost and due to overlapping of rings of different
colours only first few rings will be clearly visible.

Q.14 What will happen to Newtons rings if the plane glass plate is replaced by plane mirror?
A.14 If the plane glass plate is replaced by plane mirror in Newtons rings experiment, the ring on the
reflected system would disappear and a uniform illumination is observed. It is because there would be no
transmission of rays, but transmitted rays will also be reflected at the silvered surface and the two
complementary systems of rings superimpose on each other and give a uniform illumination.
Q.15 What will happen to Newtons rings if a lens of small radii of curvature is used?
A.15 As diameters of rings (bright or dark) are directly proportional to the square root of the radius of
curvature, R of the lens. Hence, the spacing between two consecutive rings goes on decreasing as we
move towards the centre of lens.