Department of Physics

PHYS1412 Tutorial Week 4

Optics
24.
(a)
(b)

Two light rays, initially in phase and having wavelength 600 nm in air, pass through different
plastic layers of same thickness 7.00 m. The index of refraction is 1.65 for one layer and 1.49
for the other.
What least multiple of gives the phase difference between the rays when they emerge?
If those two rays then reach a common point with the same amplitude, does the interference result
in complete darkness, maximum brightness, intermediate illumination but closer to complete
darkness or intermediate illumination but closer to maximum brightness?
If the two rays are, instead, initially exactly out of phase, what are the answers to part (a) and part
(b).
0.87; 0.37

Solution
= 600 nm
n1 = 1.49
n2 = 1.65
L = 7.00 m

n1 = 1.49
n1 = 1.65

Phase difference in wavelength is given by

L
N 2N 1= ( n 2n1 ) =1.87

Which represents an effective phase difference of 0.87 wavelength

(b)
The result in (a) is closer to 1 wavelength (constructive interference) than it is to wavelength (destructive
interference) i.e. intermediate illumination but closer to maximum brightness
(c)
This would insert a wavelength into the previous result
i.e. effective phase difference (between the two rays) = 0.87 -0.5 = 0.37 wavelength
This result is closer to destructive interference condition. Therefore intermediate illumination but closer to
darkness.

6.
Two waves of light in air, of wavelength 200.0 nm are initially in
phase. They then travel through 2 plastic layers with L 1 = 4.00 m, L2 =
3.50 m, n1 = 1.40, n2 = 1.60. (a) In wavelengths and radians, what is
their phase difference after they have emerged from the layers? (b) If the
waves later arrive at some common point, what type of interference do
they undergo?
2.5; 5 rads

Solution

=200nm

n=1
n2 =
air1.60
a

3.50 m

n1 = 1.40

Phase difference in
Up to the point of overlap of the 2 media i.e. L = 3.5m
Phase difference in

L
3.5 106 (
N 2N 1= ( n 2n1 ) =
1.601.40 ) =3.5

200 109
For remaining length of L1
Phase difference in

L
0.5 106 (
( n2n 1) =
11.40 )=1

200 109

Following order used above

Therefore Phase diff in = 2.5

(b)

In radians = 2.5 2 = 5 rad

(c)

Constructive Interference

25.

Monochromatic light of wavelength 550 nm illuminates two parallel

narrow slits 7.70 m. Calculate for the third order bright fringe (a)
in radians and (b) in degrees. ( is also called the angular deviation.)
0.216 rad; 12.4

Solution

3 ( 550 10 )
m
=sin
=
=0.216 rad
d
7.70 106
180
=0.216
=12.4

26.

( )
( )

The Youngs double-slit experiment is performed with monochromatic light of wavelength = 600 nm. The
separation of the slits is d = 0.25 cm and the distance to the viewing screen is L = 120 cm. What is the
distance from the center (maximum intensity) where the intensity is 75% the max intensity?
0.0048 cm

Solution
= 600 nm
d = 0.25 cm = 0.25 10-2 m
L = 120 cm =120 10-2 = 1.2 m
I = 0.75Imax
Find y

I=I max cos2

But

( 2 )

dsin dy
=
=
2

When I = 0.75Imax

0.75 I max =I max cos 2

( dy
L )

0.25 102 y
600 109 1.2
2
0.25 10 y
=
9
6
600 10 1.2

0.75=cos2

y = 0.0048 cm

Please also ask students how they would calculate the distance between adjacent dark fringes.
Answer: y=

L
=2.88 104 m
d
3

29.

Green light with a wavelength of 525 nm is incident perpendicularly on a soap film suspended in air. If the
index of refraction of soap is 1.33, what are the smallest two thicknesses of the film for which the reflection
from the film undergo fully constructive interference?
98.7 nm; 296.1 nm

Solution
If due to reflection alone Rays 1 and 2 would be out of phase
Ray 1 shifted by s/2
Ray 2 unshifted
Therefore for constructive interference:

( 12 )

2t = m+
t=

2
n1= 1
n2= 1.33
n3= 1

1
1
m+
2
2 nS

( )

For smallest 2 thickness m = 0 and m = 1

t 0=

1 1 525 109
=98.6 nm
2 2
1.33

t1 =

1 3 525 109
=297 n m
2 2
1.33

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