Question Bank

ENGINEERING PHYSICS
PHYSICAL OPTICS
QUESTION BANK
Prepared By:
Dr. Sripathi Punchithaya K,
Professor, Dept. of Physics, MUJ.
Interference patterns are

not standing waves !!
Interference patterns are not standing waves. The interference
patterns in are not standing waves, though they have some
similarities to the standing-wave patterns. In a standing wave, the
interference is between two waves propagating in opposite
directions; a stationary pattern of antinodes and nodes appears,
and there is no net energy flow in either direction (the energy in
the wave is left "standing"). In Interference pattern, there is
likewise a stationary pattern of anti nodal and nodal curves, but
there is a net flow of energy outward from the two sources. From
the energy standpoint, all that interference does is to "channel"
the energy flow so that it is greatest along the anti nodal curves
and least along the nodal curves.
Let monochromatic light fall on to a thin

film.
If the film has thickness t, the light is at normal

incidence and has wavelength in the film; if neither
or both of the reflected waves from the two surfaces
have a half-cycle reflection phase shift, the conditions
for constructive and destructive interference are
2t = m . (m = 0, 1,2,... ) (constructive reflection
from thin film, no relative phase shift)
2t=(m+) (m = 0,1,2, ... )
(destructive reflection from thin film, no relative
phase shift)
If one of the two waves has a half-cycle reflection

phase shift, the conditions for constructive and
destructive interference are reversed:
2t=(m+) (m = 0,1,2, ... ) (constructive reflection
from thin film, half - cycle relative phase shift).
2t = m . (m = 0, 1,2,... ) (destructive reflection from
thin film, half - cycle relative phase shift).
Interference due to the transmitted light.
Chapter One Interference

Short Answer Questions
If we are to observe interference in a

thin film, why must the film not be
very thick (with thickness only on the
order of a few wavelengths)?
What is the necessary condition on the
path length difference between two
waves that interfere (a) constructively
and (b) destructively?
Why only thin films?

In order for two waves to cause a steady interference pattern, the waves must be
coherent, with a definite and constant phase relationship. However, the sun and light
bulbs emit light in a stream of short bursts, each of which is only a few micrometers
long (1 micrometer = l,m = 10- 6 m). If light reflects from the two surfaces of a
thin film, the two reflected waves are part of the same burst (Fig. 1Left)
Why only thin films?...
Hence these waves are coherent and interference

occurs as we have described. If the film is too thick,
however, the two reflected waves will belong to
different bursts (Fig. 2Right). There is no definite phase
relationship between different light bursts, so the two
waves are incoherent and there is no fixed interference
pattern. That's why one can see interference colors in
light reflected from an oil slick a few micrometers
thick, but one can not see such colors in the light
reflected from a pane of window glass with a thickness
of a few millimeters (a thousand times greater).
The
n
n
wavelength
of
light n in a medium
whose
index
of
refraction is n
n
n
- wavelength of the light in free

space.
10
Concept of path length difference, phase and index of refraction

Vacuum
Vacuum
L Ln1
N1
, N Wave Number
n1
L
Ln2
N2
n 2
c=f
n=c/v
vn= f nf /n
N2 N1
Optical Path length = Refractive index x Actual path

length
L
L n2 n1
n2 n1
Path length difference = Phase difference =
L n2 n1
mwhere
Rays are in phase if

m
L n2 n1
1
where m=1,2,3
Rays are out of phase if
1 is
the same asradian (rad), is the same as rad, etc.
Interference:
Example
A red light beam with wavelength =0.625m travels through glass (n=1.46)
a distance of 1mm. A second beam, parallel to the first one and originally in
phase with it, travels the same distance through sapphire (n=1.77).
How many wavelengths are there of each
beam inside the material?
In glass, g=0.625m/1.46= 0.428 m and Ng=D/ g=2336.45
In sapphire, s=0.625m/1.77= 0.353 m (UV!) and Ns=D/ s=2832.86
What is the phase difference in the beams when they come out?
The difference in wavelengths is Ns-Ng=496.41.
Each wavelength is 360o, so N=496.41 means
=Nx360o=0.41x360o=148o
How thick should the glass be so that the beams are exactly out of phase
at the exit (destructive interference!)
N=D/ s D/ g= (D/ )(n2-n1)=0.31 (D/ )=m+1/2
A thickness D=(m+0.5) 2.02 m would make the waves OUT of phase.
For example, 1.008 mm makes them in phase, and 1.010 mm makes them
OUT of phase.

Short Answer Questions #01
What changes, if any ,occur in the interference

fringes if the double slit arrangement is placed under
water of refractive index n?
Answer: Upon immersing the entire set up in water of
Refractive index n fringe width decreases.
[ Fringe width = D /n d ]; D= distance between the
source and the screen, d= distance between the slits
and = wavelength of the light used.

Short Answer Questions #01(a)
If Youngs double-slit experiment

were performed under water, how
would the observed interference
pattern be
affected?

Short Answer Questions
#01(a)
Underwater, the wavelength of the
light would decrease, water=air/nwater.
Since the positions of light and dark
bands are proportional to , the
underwater fringe separations will
decrease.
If one of the slits in the Youngs double

slit experiment is covered with an
opaque object, what change would
occur in the intensity of the light at the
center
of the screen?
Interference
Short Intensity
Answer will
Question
#02
Answer:
decrease
to
(1/4)th of the earlier value.
If one of the slits in the Youngs double

slit experiment is covered with an
opaque object, what would happen to
the intensity of the light at the location
of Interference
the first minimum?
Short Intensity
Answer will
Question
#02(a)
Answer:
increase.
In Youngs double slit experiment what will

happen to the fringe with if the separation
of the double slits decreases?
Answer:
If the separation of the
Interference
double
slits
decreases,
the #02(b)
Short
Answer
Question
separation of the fringes increases.
In Youngs double slit experiment what

will happen to the fringe pattern with if
the monochromatic light is replaced by
white light?
Interference
Answer:
If white light is used the
Short
Answer
Question
central
fringe
is white
and the#02(c)
fringes
on either side are coloured.
Interference
Short Answer Question #02(d)
In Youngs double-slit experiment, why

do we use monochromatic light? If
white light is used, how would the
pattern change?
Every color produces its own pattern,

with a spacing between the maxima
that is characteristic of the
wavelength. With several colors, the
patterns are superimposed and it can
be difficult to pick out a single
maximum. Use of monochromatic
light can eliminate this problem.
Coated lens reduces reflections

through thin-film interference.
Blooming of Lenses (1)
The process of
coating a film on the
lens is called
blooming.
A very thin coating on
the lens surface can
reduce reflections of
light considerably.
http://users.erols.com/renau/thinfilm.html
The amount of reflection of light at a

boundary depends on the difference
in refractive index between the two
materials.
Ideally, the coating material should
have a refractive index so that the
amount of reflection at each surface
is about equal. Then destructive
interference can occur nearly
completely for one particular
wavelength.
http://www3.ltu.edu/~s_schneider/physlets/main/thinfilm.shtml
The thickness of the film is chosen

so that light reflecting from the
front and rear surfaces of the film
destructively interferes.
For cancellation of reflected light,
1 o
2t ( )
2
Interferenc
e
Short
Answer
Question
Why
do
#03 lenses
coated
look purple
by reflected
light?
To minimize reflections,
camera lenses will be coated
with non-reflecting coatings
and hence little light is
reflected by the lens in far
end of visible region. Hence
they look purple.
Interference
Short Answer
Question #04
Why Newtons Rings are circular ?
Answer:
In a Newtons ring set up a plano - ( or double)
convex lens is placed on a glass plate such that its
convex surface touches the glass plate. The air film
thus possesses a radial symmetry about the point of
contact. When this is illuminated normally by a
monochromatic light, interference fringes which are
loci of points of equal optical thickness are
observed. Thus because of this radial symmetry,
Newtons rings are circular in nature.
Interference
Short Answer
Question #05
In a Newtons Ring
experiment, is the central
spot, as seen by reflection,
dark or light?
Explain.
At the central point,

the lens and the
glass plate are in
contact and hence
the thickness of the
air film is very
small. Excessively
thin films appear
dark in the reflected
light because of
destructive
interference. Hence
the central spot is
dark.
Interference
Short Answer Question #06
In Youngs double slit experiment, What

will happen if the source slit is moved
nearer to the double slits ?
Answer:
If the source slit is moved nearer to the
double slits the separation of the fringes
is unaffected but their brightness
increases.
Interference
Short Answer Question
In Youngs double slit experiment, What
#07
will happen to the fringe width if the

separation of the double slits
decreases?
Answer:
If the separation of the double slits
decreases, the separation of the
fringes increases.
Interference
What will happen to the spacing between the
#08
interference fringes if the wavelength of laser light
is changed from red to green in a double slit
experiment? Why?
Answer:
D
Fringe width
; where wavelength of the light used,
d
D distance between the source and the screen, and d distance between the slits,
Since red is greater than green , decreases.
Interference
What should be the minimum
#09
thickness (in terms of wavelength

used) and refractive index of a nonreflective coating on lens made up of
glass?
Non-reflective Coatings
Since both paths have the same phase
change at the interfaces, take only the
path differences into account.
t
m n
2
2t m
For destructive
interference
1

m
2
n
2t m
Example: = 550 nm, no
reflection
550nm
94.8nm
4n 41.45
Answer to Question # 09
Non-reflective coatings for lens surfaces make use of thin-film
interference. A thin layer or film of hard transparent material
with an index of refraction smaller than that of the glass is
deposited on the lens surface. Light is reflected from both
surfaces of the layer. In both reflections the light is reflected
from a medium of greater index than that in which it is
traveling, so the same phase change occurs in both
reflections. If the film thickness is a quarter (one-fourth) of the
wavelength in the film (assuming normal incidence), the total
path difference is a half-wavelength. Light reflected from the
first surface is then a half-cycle out of phase with light
reflected from the second, and there is destructive
interference. The thickness of the non-reflective coating can
be a quarter-wavelength. (t = /4)
Interference
In a Michelsons Interferometer will the
#10
fringe pattern change if the index of
refraction of the compensator plate
changes? Why?
Interference
Answer to Question #10
Yes, Changing the index of refraction changes the

wavelength of the light inside the compensator
plate, and so changes the number of wavelengths
within the thickness of the plate. Hence this has the
same effect as changing the distance L1 from the
beam splitter to mirror M1 which would change the
interference pattern.
Interference
Monochromatic coherent light passing
#11
through two thin slits is viewed on a
distant screen. Are the bright fringes
equally spaced on the screen? If so,
why? If not, which ones are closest to
being equally spaced?
Interference
#12
Soapy water is colorless, but
when blown into bubbles it
shows vibrant colors. How
does the thickness of the
bubble walls determine the
particular colors that appear?
Interference
The colors appear due to constructive

interference between light waves reflected
from the outer and inner surfaces of the
soap bubble. The thickness of the bubble
walls at each point determines the
wavelength of light for which the most
constructive interference occurs and hence
the color that appears the brightest at that
point
Interference
The top portion of a soapy water film on
#13
a vertical loop appears black when

viewed by reflected light. Why?
Answer: This is because the film by
drainage, has become very thin
and destructive interference occurs
between light reflected from the
front and back surfaces of the film.
If the film is very thin, then the interference is totally dominated by the 180 phase
shift in the reflection.
At the top the film is thinnest (due to gravity it lumps at the bottom), so one
sees thefilm dark at the top.
This film is illuminated with white light, therefore we see fringes of different colors
corresponding to the various constructive interferences of the individual components
of the white light, which change as we go down. The thickness increases steeply as
we go down, which makes the width of the fringes become narrower and narrower.
Interference
Why is the lens on a good-quality
#14
camera coated with a thin film?
A camera lens will have more than one element, to

correct (at least) for chromatic aberration. It will
have several surfaces, each of which would reflect
some fraction of the incident light. To maximize
light throughput the surfaces need antireflective
coatings. The coating thickness is chosen to
produce destructive interference for reflected light
of some wavelength.
Interference
As a soap bubble evaporates, it
#15
appears black just before it breaks.

Explain this phenomenon in terms of
the phase changes that occur on
reflection from the two surfaces of the
soap film.
Interference
As water evaporates from the soap bubble,

the thickness of the bubble wall approaches
zero. Since light reflecting from the front of
the water surface is phase-shifted 180 and
light reflecting from the back of the soap
film is phase-shifted 0, the reflected light
meets the conditions for a minimum.
Thus the soap film appears black
Interference
Explain why two flashlights held close
#16
together do not produce an
interference pattern on a distant
screen.
Interference
The light from the flashlights consists of

many different wavelengths (thats why its
white) with random time differences between
the light waves. There is no coherence
between the two sources. The light from the
two flashlights does not maintain a constant
phase relationship over time. These three
equivalent statements mean no possibility of
an interference pattern.
Interference
Light of wavelength illuminates a
1
#17
double slit, and interference fringes

are observed on a screen behind the
slits. When the wavelength is changed
to 2, the fringes get closer together.
How large is 2 relative to 1?
ANSWER: 2 is smaller than 1
Interference
In Youngs double slit experiment,
#18
What will be the intensity on the
screen if both the sources are
replaced by incoherent sources?
Interference
If the two sources were incoherent,

the intensity would be uniform
over the screen and would be 2 I0
where I0 is the intensity due to
single source.
Interference
#19
Interference
#20
ANSWERS to MCQs
1.A 2.E 3.C 4.B 5.B 6.D 7.C 8.C 9.E 10.D
11.C 12.A 13.D 14.D 15.
B 16.E 17.D 18.A 19.E
20.D
21.C 22.D 23.E 24.D 25.D 26.E 27.B 28.B 29.B
30.C
31.D 32.D
40. D
33D 34. A 35.E 36.C 37.B 38.A39.D
INTERFERENCE
#01
MCQ
In a Young's double-slit experiment the center of a

bright fringe occurs wherever waves from the slits
differ in the distance they travel by a multiple of:
A)
a fourth of a wavelength
B)
a half a wavelength
C)
a wavelength
D)
three-fourths of a wavelength
E)
none of the above
INTERFERENCE
#02
MCQ
In a Young's double-slit experiment the center of a

bright fringe occurs wherever waves from the slits differ
in phase by a multiple of:
A)
/4
B)
/2
C)
D)
3/4
E)
none of the above
INTERFERENCE
#03
MCQ
Waves from two slits are in phase at the slits and travel to a
distant screen to produce the second side maximum of the
interference pattern. The difference in the distance traveled by
the waves is:
A)
half a wavelength
B)
a wavelength
C)
three halves of a wavelength
D)
two wavelengths
E)
five halves of a wavelength
INTERFERENCE
MCQ
#04
A monochromatic light source illuminates a double slit
and the resulting interference pattern is observed on a
distant screen. Let d = center-to-center slit spacing, a =
individual slit width, D = screen-to-slit distance, E =
adjacent dark line spacing in the interference pattern.
The wavelength of the light is then:
A)
dE /D
B)
Ld/a
C)
da/D
D)
E D/a
E)
Dd/E
Answer: A
INTERFERENCE
#05
MCQ
In a Young's double-slit experiment, the slit

separation is doubled. To maintain the same
fringe spacing on the screen, the screen-to-slit
distance D must be changed to:
A)
D/2
B)
D/2
C)
D2
D)
2D
E)
4D
Answer: D
INTERFERENCE
#06
MCQ
In a Young's double-slit experiment, light of wavelength

500 nm illuminates two slits which are separated by 1
mm. The separation between adjacent bright fringes on a
screen 5 m from the slits is:
A)
0.10 cm
B)
0.25 cm
C)
0.50 cm
D)
1.0 cm
E)
none of the above
Answer: B
INTERFERENCE
#07
MCQ
In a Young's double-slit experiment, the separation

between slits is d and the screen is a distance D from the
slits. The number of bright fringes per unit length on the
screen is:
A)
Dd/
B)
D/d
C)
D/d
D)
/Dd
E)
d/D
Answer: E
INTERFERENCE
#08
MCQ
In a Young's double-slit experiment, the slit

separation is doubled. This results in:
A) an increase in fringe intensity
B) a decrease in fringe intensity
C) a halving of the wavelength
D) a halving of the fringe spacing
E) a doubling of the fringe spacing
Answer: D
INTERFERENCE
#09
MCQ
A light wave with an electric field amplitude of 2E0 and a phase

constant of zero is to be combined with one of the following waves.
Which of these combinations produces the greatest intensity?
A) wave A has an amplitude of E 0 and a phase constant of zero
B)
wave B has an amplitude of E0 and a phase constant of
C)
wave C has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of zero
D)
wave D has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of
E)
wave E has an amplitude of 3E0 and a phase constant of
Answer: C
INTERFERENCE
#10
MCQ
A light wave with an electric field amplitude of 2E0 and a phase

constant of zero is to be combined with one of the following waves.
Which of these combinations produces the least intensity?
A) wave A has an amplitude of E 0 and a phase constant of zero
B)
wave B has an amplitude of E0 and a phase constant of
C)
wave C has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of zero
D)
wave D has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of
E)
wave E has an amplitude of 3E0 and a phase constant of
Answer: D
INTERFERENCE
#11
MCQ
One of the two slits in a Young's experiment is painted over so

that it transmits only one-half the intensity of the other slit. As a
result:
A) the fringe system disappears
B) the bright fringes get brighter and the dark ones get darker
C) the fringes just get dimmer
D) the dark fringes just get brighter
E) the dark fringes get brighter and the bright ones get darker
Answer: E
INTERFERENCE
#12
MCQ
In a Young's double-slit experiment, a thin sheet of mica is placed

over one of the two slits. As a result, the center of the fringe
pattern (on the screen) shifts by an amount corresponding to 30
dark bands. The wavelength of the light in this experiment is 480
mm and the index of the mica is 1.60. The mica thickness is:
A)
0.090 mm
B)
0.012 mm
C)
0.014 mm
D)
0.024 mm
E)
0.062 mm
Answer: D
INTERFERENCE
#13
MCQ
Monochromatic light, at normal incidence, strikes a thin

film in air. If denotes the wavelength in the film, what is
the thinnest film in which the reflected light will be a
maximum?
A)
much less than
B)
/4
C)
/2
D)
3 /4
E)
Answer: B
INTERFERENCE
#14
MCQ
A soap film, 4 105 cm thick, is illuminated by white

light normal to its surface. The index of refraction of the
film is 1.50. Which wavelengths will be intensified in the
reflected beam?
A)
400 nm and 600 nm
B)
480 nm and 800 nm
C)
360 nm and 533 nm
D)
400 nm and 800 nm
E)
510 nm and 720 nm
Answer: B
INTERFERENCE
#15
MCQ
A soap film, 4 105 cm thick, is illuminated by white

light normal to its surface. The index of refraction of the
film is 1.50. Which wavelengths will be intensified in the
reflected beam?
A)
400 nm and 600 nm
B)
480 nm and 800 nm
C)
360 nm and 533 nm
D)
400 nm and 800 nm
E)
510 nm and 720 nm
Answer: B
INTERFERENCE
#16
MCQ
A liquid of refractive index n = 4/3 replaces the air between a fixed

wedge formed from two glass plates as shown. As a result, the
spacing between adjacent dark bands in the interference pattern:
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
increases by a factor of 4/3

increases by a factor of 3
remains the same
decreases to 3/4 of its original value
decreases to 1/3 of its original value
Answer: D
INTERFERENCE
#17
MCQ
In a thin film experiment, a wedge of air is used

between two glass plates. If the wavelength of the
incident light in air is 480 nm, how much thicker is the
air wedge at the 16th dark fringe than it is at the 6th?
A)
2400 nm
B)
4800 nm
C)
240 nm
D)
480 nm
E)
none of these
Answer: A
INTERFERENCE
#18
MCQ
A glass (n = 1.6) lens is coated with a thin film (n = 1.3)

to reduce reflection of certain incident light. If is the
wavelength of the light in the film, the least film
thickness is:
A)
less than /4
B)
/4
C)
/2
D)
E)
more than
ANSWER: B
INTERFERENCE
#19
MCQ
If two light waves are coherent:

A)
their amplitudes are the same
B)
their frequencies are the same
C)
their wavelengths are the same
D)
their phase difference is constant
E)
the difference in their frequencies is
constant
ANSWER: D
20. Suppose the viewing screen in

the figure is moved closer to the double
slit. What happens to the interference
fringes?
1. They get brighter but otherwise do not change.
2. They get brighter and closer together.
3. They get brighter and farther apart.
4. They get out of focus.
5. They fade out and disappear.
20. Suppose the viewing screen in

the figure is moved closer to the double
slit. What happens to the interference
fringes?
1. They get brighter but otherwise do not change.
2. They get brighter and closer together.
3. They get brighter and farther apart.
4. They get out of focus.
5. They fade out and disappear.
INTERFERENCE
MCQ # 21
What was the first experiment to show that light is a wave?

1. Youngs double slit experiment
2. Galileos observation of Jupiters moons
3. The Michelson-Morley interferometer
4. The Pound-Rebka experiment
5. Millikans oil drop experiment
INTERFERENCE
MCQ # 21
What was the first experiment to show that light is a wave?
1. Youngs double slit experiment

2. Galileos observation of Jupiters moons
3. The Michelson-Morley interferometer
4. The Pound-Rebka experiment
5. Millikans oil drop experiment
INTERFERENCE
MCQ # 22
A Michelson interferometer using light of wavelength

has been adjusted to produce a bright spot at the
center of the interference pattern. Mirror M1 is then
moved distance toward the beam splitter while M2
is moved distance away from the beam splitter.
How many bright-dark-bright fringe shifts are seen?
1. 0
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 4
INTERFERENCE
MCQ # 22
A Michelson interferometer using light of wavelength

has been adjusted to produce a bright spot at the
center of the interference pattern. Mirror M1 is then
moved distance toward the beam splitter while M2
is moved distance away from the beam splitter.
How many bright-dark-bright fringe shifts are seen?
1. 0
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 4
Anti-Reflective
Coatings
Radar waves have a wavelength of 3cm.
Suppose the plane is made of metal

(speed of propagation=0, n is infinite and
reflection on the polymer-metal surface
Stealth Fighter
therefore has a 180 degree phase change).
The polymer has n=1.5. Same calculation as in previous example
gives,
3cm
L
0.5cm
4n 4 1.5
On the other hand, if one coated a plane with the same polymer
(for instance to prevent rust) and for safety reasons wanted to maximize
radar visibility (reflective coating!), one would have
3cm
L
1cm
2n 2 1.5
Example 1: Two slits are 0.08 mm apart,

and the screen is 2 m away. How far is the
third dark fringe located from the central
maximum
if light of wavelength 600
nm
x
x = 2 m; d = 0.08 mm
s
is used?
d sin
1
= 600 nm; y = ?
d sin = 5(/2)
The third dark fringe occurs when n = 5
Dark fringes:
dy
n , n 1, 3, 5...
x
2
s2
n = 1, 3, 5
dy
dy 55
xx
22
Example 1 (Cont.): Two slits are 0.08 mm

apart, and the screen is 2 m away. How
far is the third dark fringe located from
x
x
=
2
m;
d
=
0.08
mm
the central maximum if s = 600 nm?
1
= 600 nm; y = ?
dy
dy 55
xx
22
d sin
s2
n = 1, 3, 5
5 x 5(600 x 10-9 m)(2 m)

y
2d
2(0.08 x 10-3m)
yy==3.75
3.75cm
cm
Example 2: Light (600 nm) strikes a grating

ruled with 300 lines/mm. What is the
angular deviation of the 2nd order bright
fringe?
To find slit separation,
we take reciprocal of
300 lines/mm:
n=2
Lines/mm mm/line
300 lines/mm
1
d
0.00333 mm/line
300 lines/mm
mm 103 m
d 0.00333
line 1 mm
dd 33 xx 10
10 m
m
-6
-6
Example (Cont.) 2: A grating is ruled with

300 lines/mm. What is the angular
deviation of the 2nd order bright fringe?
= 600 nm
d 3 x 10-6 m
d sin n
n2
n=2
300 lines/mm
2 2(600 x 10-9 m)
sin
;
-6
d
3.33 x 10
Angular deviation of
second order fringe is:
sin 0.360
0
2 ==21.1
0
21.1
2
=?
Example 3: Monochromatic
light
x=
1.5 mshines
On a y
sin slit of width 0.45 mm.
on a sin
single
a
screen 1.5 maaway, the first
dark
a = 0.35
mm fringe is
displaced 2 mm from the central
y is the
y wavelength
ya
maximum.
What
of
the
sin tan ;
;
light?
x
x a
x
(0.002 m)(0.00045 m)
1.50 m
= 600 nm
Example 4: The tail lights ( = 632 nm)

of an auto are 1.2 m apart and the pupil
of the eye is around 2 mm in diameter.
How far away can
the tail lights be
p
resolved as separate images?
so
Tail lights
s0
0 1.22
D p
(1.2 m)(0.002 m)
p
1.22(632 x 10-9 m)
Eye
s0 D
p
1.22
p = 3.11 km
Monochromatic light is beamed into a Michelson

interferometer. The movable mirror is displaced 0.382 mm,
causing the interferometer pattern to reproduce
itself 1 700
4.49 107 m 449 nm
times. Determine the wavelength of the light. What color is it?
Youngs double-slit experiment is performed with 589-nm light and a distance of
2.00 m between the slits and the screen. The tenth interference minimum is
observed 7.26 mm from the central maximum. Determine the spacing of the slits
Two narrow, parallel slits separated by 0.250 mm are illuminated by green light (
= 546.1 nm). The interference pattern is observed on a screen 1.20 m away from
the plane of the slits. Calculate the distance (a) from the central maximum to the
first bright region on either side of the central maximum and (b) between the first
and second dark bands.
In a double slit arrangement let L = 120 cm and d = 0.250 cm. The slits are
illuminated with coherent 600-nm light. Calculate the distance y above the central
maximum for which the average intensity on the screen is 75.0% of the maximum.
A thin film of oil (n = 1.25) is located on a smooth

wet pavement. When viewed perpendicular to the
pavement, the film reflects most strongly red light
at 640 nm and reflects no blue light at 512 nm.
How thick
is the
film? an airplane invisible to
A possible
means
foroil
making
radar is to coat the plane with an antireflective polymer. If
radar waves have a wavelength of 3.00 cm and the index
of refraction of the polymer is n = 1.50, how thick would
you make the coating?
A beam of 580-nm light passes
through two closely spaced glass
plates, as shown in Figure P37.37.
For what minimum nonzero value of
the plate separation d is the
transmitted light bright?
An oil slick (n = 1.40) on water (n = 1.33) appears yellow

( = 469 nm) when illuminated by the sun directly
overhead. What is the minimum thickness of the oil slick?
Constructive I/F
when
2t = (m+1/2)n
= (m+1/2)/n
t = 83.8 nm
n=1.40
n=1.33
n=1
A soap bubble (n = 1.33) floats in the air. If

the thickness of the bubble wall is 115 nm, what
wavelength of light will be most visible?
Constructive I/F
when
2t = (m+1/2)n
= (m+1/2)/n
= 2nt/(m+1/2)
= 612 nm (orange)
n=1
n=1.33 n=1
115 nm
Wedge Film Example
A thin wire is placed between the ends of two glass

plates, forming an air wedge. When light with a
wavelength of 600 nm falls nearly perpendicularly on
the plates, 30 dark fringes are seen. What is the
thickness of the wire?
Relative phase inversion

Destructive interference: 2 t = m
t = m / 2 = 8.7 m (m = 29: first fringe is m=0)
Wedge Film Example 2
A sheet of paper of thickness 41.0 m is used to

separate two glass plates 5.00 cm long.
If light of wavelength 526 nm is used to illuminate

the plates, how many dark fringes can be seen?
What is the spacing of the dark fringes?
Relative phase inversion
Destructive interference: m = 2 t / = 155
+1 = 156 (fringe at 0)
Spacing = 5.00 cm / 156 fringes = .0321
cm/fringe
Example: a viewing screen is separated from the

double-slit source by 1.2 m. The distance between the
two slits is 0.030 mm. The second-order bright fringe
(m = 2) is 4.5 cm from the center line. Determine the
wavelength of the light.
y R tan R sin
Bright fringes:
S1
m d sin
yd
Rm
4.5 10
5.6 10
m 3.0 10-5 m
1.2 m 2
y
L2
S2
-2
y
m d
R
L1
tan
R
m 560 nm
y
R
Example: A viewing screen is separated from the

(m = 2) is 4.5 cm from the center line. Find the
distance between adjacent bright fringes.
y R tan R sin
Bright fringes:
m d sin
S1
d
S2
R
m
d
R
R
R
ym+1-ym
m 1 m
d
d
d
y
L2
y
m d
R
y
L1
tan
y
R
5.6 10 m 1.2 m 2.2 10 3.0 10 m

7
-5
m 2.2 cm
Example: a viewing screen is separated from the

(m = 2) is 4.5 cm from the center line. Find the width of
the bright fringes.
Define the bright fringe width to
be the distance between two
L1
adjacent destructive minima.
ydark
1
m
d
sin
2
R
S1
ydark
R
1
d
2
ydark,m+1-ydark,m
S2
5.6 10 m 1.2 m 2.2 cm

3.0 10 m
7
ydark,m+1-ydark,m
-5
L2
R
1
R
R
1
m
d
2
d
d
2
tan
y
R
Thin Film Interference: Path Length Difference

Example: light of wavelength 600 nm in air is
perpendicularly incident on a piece of glass 4.1 m
thick. The index of refraction of glass is 1.5. Some of
the light is reflected off the back surface of the glass.
How many light waves are contained along the path of
this light through the glass?
Air
Glass
t
Air
andenters
Light
passes
exits.
back
the
glass the
through
glass and
glass
reflects off the
back surface
passes through
Some probably reflects
back into
offthe
the
thefront
second
glass
surface,
but
we areinnot
surface,
glass,
but
but
wewe
areare
not
not
interested
interested
in
that
that
interested in that light.
light.

How many light waves are contained along the path of
this light through the glass?
How many waves can fit in the path of length 2t?
air
600 nm
glass =
=
=400 nm
nglass
1.5
Air
Glass
t
Air
path length=2 t =8.2 m=8200 nm

2t
number of waves =
glass
8200 nm
number of waves =
=20.5
400 nm

Are the outgoing waves in phase or out of phase with
the incoming waves
Note: if you look down at the glass, your eye sees only the reflected waves; you will not see
interference of the incident and reflected waves, so you are not being asked if interference
between incident and reflected waves will take place.
Air
Glass
t
8200 nm
number of waves =
=20.5
400 nm
Air
The outgoing waves would differ in phase by

wavelength from the incoming waves
except that you must also consider phase shift due
to reflection.
Example: a glass lens is coated on one side with a thin

film of MgF2 to reduce reflection from the lens surface.
The index of refraction for MgF2 is 1.38 and for glass is
1.50. What is the minimum thickness of MgF2 that
eliminates reflection of light of wavelength = 550
nm? Assume approximately perpendicular angle of
incidence for the light.
180 phase change
Both rays and

experience a 180 phase
shift on reflection so the
total phase difference is
due to the path difference
of the two rays.
Air
nAir = 1.00
180
phase
change
MgF2
n= 1.38
glass, ng =1.50
The reflected light is minimum when the two light rays meet the condition for
destructive interference: the path length difference is a half-integral multiple of the
light wavelength in MgF2.
2t = m+
,m=0,1, 2...
2 nMgF2
180 phase change
The minimum thickness is

for m=0.
2tmin =
2nMgF2
550 nm
tmin =
=
=99.6 nm
4nMgF2 4 1.38
Air
nAir = 1.00
180
phase
change
MgF2
n= 1.38
glass, ng =1.50
Example: two glass plates 10 cm long are in contact on

one side and separated by a piece of paper 0.02 mm
thick on the other side. What is the spacing between
the interference fringes? Assume monochromatic light
with a wavelength in air of = 500 nm incident
perpendicular to the slides.
The light that is partly reflected at the bottom of the first glass surface and partly
transmitted is responsible for the interference fringes.*
Ray is not phase shifted on

reflection. Ray is shifted 180 on
reflection.
For destructive
interference
2t =mm=01 2...
*This reference explains why there is no visible interference due to the relatively thick glass plates themselves.
t
x
L = 10 cm
H = 2x10-5 m
2t =mm=01 2...
t H
Hx
=
t=
x L
L
0.1 m 500 nm
Hx
L
2 =m x =m =m
=m 1.25 mm
-5
L
2H
2 210 m
x is the distance from the
contact point to where
destructive interference takes
place.
Successive dark fringes
are separated by 1.25
mm.
t
x
L = 10 cm
H = 2x10-5 m
For constructive
interference
t H
Hx
=
t=
x L
L
1
2t = m+ m=01 2...
2
Hx
1
1 L
2 = m+ x = m+
L
2
2 2H
Successive bright fringes occur
for m+ and (m+1)+.
Hx
1
2
= m+1 +
L
2
3 L
x = m+
2 2H
t
x
L = 10 cm
H = 2x10-5 m
3 L
1 L
x - x= m+
m+
2 2H
2 2H
L
x - x=
=1.25 mm
2H
Successive bright fringes
are separated by 1.25
mm.
t
x
L = 10 cm
H = 2x10-5 m
Example: suppose the glass plates have ng = 1.50 and

the space between them contains water (nw = 1.33).
What happens now?
Ray is not phase shifted on reflection. Ray is
shifted 180 on reflection. Both are the same as before.
For destructive
interference
2t =mm=01 2...
But the path difference now occurs

in water, where the light will have
a wavelength
nwater
Repeat the calculation, using water.
t
x
L = 10 cm
H = 2x10-5 m
For destructive interference, we now have

0.1 m 500 nm/1.33
L water
x =m
=m
=m 0.94 mm
-5
2H
2 210 m
Successive dark fringes are separated by 0.94
mm.
t
x
L = 10 cm
H = 2x10-5 m
39. A disabled tanker leaks kerosene (n = 1.20) into the Persian Gulf,
creating a large slick on top of the water (n = 1.30).
(a) If you are looking straight down from an airplane while the Sun is
overhead at a region of the slick where its thickness is L=460 nm, for
which wavelength(s) of visible light is the reflection brightest because of
constructive interference?
Path difference between ray 1and ray 2 = 2L.
Phase changes cancel out
For constructive interference path difference

must = integral number of wavelengths
air 1.0
Kerosene 1.20
Water 1.30
180degphase
change
2L m
2n 2 L

n2
m
2n 2 L 21.20460nm
1104,552,368nm
m
m
form =1,m = 2,andm = 3respectively
We note that only the 552 nm wavelength falls
within the visible light range.
(b) If you are scuba diving directly under this same region of the slick, for
which wavelength(s) of visible light is the transmitted intensity strongest?
(Hint: use figure (a) with appropriate indices of refraction.)
For transmission, ray 2 undergoes 180 deg phase shift upon reflection at the
Kerosene-water interface. Therefore, for constructive interference 2L= integral
number of wavelengths in n2 plus half a wavelength.
1
2L m n 2 wherem 0,1,2,...
n
n2
1
2L m wherem 0,1,2,...
2 n 2
Solvefor
air 1.0
Kerosene 1.20
Water 1.30
2
1
Scubadiver

2L m
1
Solvingfor
2 n 2
4n 2 L
2m 1
4n 2 L
4(1.2)(460)
2208nmm = 0
2m 1
1
4n 2 L
4(1.2)(460)
736nmm = 1
2m 1
3
4n 2 L
4(1.2)(460)

441.6nmm 2
2m 1
5

Visible spectrum is 430 nm - 690 nm

We note that only the 441.6 nm
wavelength (blue) is in the visible range,
27. S1 and S2 in Fig. 36-29 are point

sources of electromagnetic waves of
wavelength 1.00 m. They are in phase and
separated by d = 4.00 m, and they emit at
the same power.
(a) If a detector is moved to the right along
the x-axis from source S1, at what
distances from S1 are the first three
interference maxima detected?
detector
d 2 x2 .
The wave from S1 travels a distance x and the wave from S2 travels a
distance
d 2 x2 .
The path difference is
d2 x2 x
d2 x2
For constructive interference we have
pathdifference = d 2 x 2 x mm 1,2,3..
The solution for x of this equation is
Solve for x
d 2 x 2 x m
d 2 x 2 = m xNowsquarebothsides
d x = (m x)
2
d 2 x 2 m 2 2 2mx x 2 Nowcancelx 2
d 2 m 2 2 2mxsolveforx
d 2 m 2 2
x
form = 1,2,3,..
2m
m=3
m=2
m=1
16 3
Form 3x
1.17m.
23 2
16 2
Form 2x
3.0m.
2
2

d 2 m 2 2
x
.
2m
16 m 2
x
2m
16 1
Form 1x
7.5m.
2
1

2
What about m = 4 ? This corresponds to x=0. Path difference =4 meters.
Wheredotheminimaoccur?
pathdifference = d 2 x 2 x (m 12 ) m 0,1,2,3
m=3
m=2
m=1
m=1
m=0
m=0x=15.75m
m=1x=4.55m
m=2x=1.95m
m=3x=0.55m
d 2 (m 12 ) 2 2
x
.
1
2(m 2 )
16 (m 12 ) 2
x
.
1
2(m 2 )
Although the amplitudes are the same at the sources, the waves travel
of minimum intensity and each
different distances to get to the points
amplitude decreases in inverse proportion to the square of the distance
traveled. The intensity is not zero at the minima positions.
P0
P0
I1
x2
(0.55) 2
1
I1
I
~
2
4 x 2
4 (d 2 x 2 )
I2 d 2 x 2 4 2 (0.55) 2 64
Demo with speakers using sound waves

Set oscillator frequency to 1372 Hz,
Then wavelength of sound is 343/1372 =0.25 m
Set speakers apart by 1m. Then maxima occur at
1 m 2 (1 / 16)
x
2m(1 / 4)
16 m 2
x
8m
d 2 m 2 2
x
.
2m
m 4x 0
169 7
m 3x=
m 0.33m
24
24
164 12
m 0.75m
16
16
161 15
m 1x=
m 2.0m
7
7
m 2x=
Example Problem 1
In a double slit interference experiment,
the slits are 10 micron (10-6 meters)
apart and the screen is 2 meters away.
If 500nm wavelength light is used,
find a) the location of the first dark
fringe, b) the location of the 3 rd bright
fringe, c) the spacing between fringes,
d) the theoretical number of bright
fringes possible.
a) d sin = (m+1/2), 1E-5 sin

=(1/2) 5E-7 = 1.43
y = L tan = 2.0 tan(1.43) = 0.05m
b) d sin = (m), 1E-5 sin = (3) 5E-7
= 8.63
y = L tan = 2.0 tan(8.63) = 0.30m
c) d sin = (1), = 2.86
y = 0.10m
d) let maximum = 90, d sin 90 =
(m), m=20. This is for 1 side and
there is a middle fringe total = 41
Example Problem 2
What is the minimum thickness of a

soap bubble film with index of
refraction 1.33 that would reflect
650nm most brightly? b) What is the
minimum thickness for an antireflecting coating of index of refraction
1.4 or a glass of index 1.5 which would
reflect no green light of wavelength
550nm? c) what would be the color of
the light that is reflected off the lens
a)
n= 1.33, o = 650nm, = o /n = 488nm, m = 0

= m2-m1
m2 = 2d/ , since m1 =
(due to 180 deg. inversion not present at m2) our

path difference can be wavelength.
Get wavelength inside material and determine d =
m2 * /2 = * 488 / 2=122nm
b) coating n=1.4, glass = 1.5 at 550nm = o /n =
393nm, m1 = , m2 = 2d/ + since both m1
and m2 reflect from greater index of refraction
mediums m = = m2-m1 = m2 , m2 = 1
= 550/1.4 = 393,hence m2 =1= 2d/ + , 2d/ =
1/2, d = /4 = 393/4 = 98nm
c) green transmitted, blue & red reflected, = magenta
END
Interference

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ENGINEERING PHYSICS

Interference patterns are

Let monochromatic light fall on to a thin

If the film has thickness t, the light is at normal

If one of the two waves has a half-cycle reflection

Chapter One Interference

If we are to observe interference in a

Why only thin films?

Why only thin films?...

Hence these waves are coherent and interference

- wavelength of the light in free

Concept of path length difference, phase and index of refraction

Optical Path length = Refractive index x Actual path

Path length difference = Phase difference =

Rays are in phase if

the same asradian (rad), is the same as rad, etc.

Chapter One Interference

What changes, if any ,occur in the interference

Chapter One Interference

If Youngs double-slit experiment

Chapter One Interference

If one of the slits in the Youngs double

If one of the slits in the Youngs double

In Youngs double slit experiment what will

In Youngs double slit experiment what

In Youngs double-slit experiment, why

Every color produces its own pattern,

Coated lens reduces reflections

Blooming of Lenses (1)

Blooming of Lenses (2)

The amount of reflection of light at a

Blooming of Lenses (3)

The thickness of the film is chosen

At the central point,

In Youngs double slit experiment, What

will happen to the fringe width if the

thickness (in terms of wavelength

Yes, Changing the index of refraction changes the

The colors appear due to constructive

a vertical loop appears black when

A camera lens will have more than one element, to

appears black just before it breaks.

As water evaporates from the soap bubble,

The light from the flashlights consists of

double slit, and interference fringes

ANSWER: 2 is smaller than 1

If the two sources were incoherent,

33D 34. A 35.E 36.C 37.B 38.A39.D

In a Young's double-slit experiment the center of a

In a Young's double-slit experiment the center of a

In a Young's double-slit experiment, the slit

In a Young's double-slit experiment, light of wavelength

In a Young's double-slit experiment, the separation

In a Young's double-slit experiment, the slit

A light wave with an electric field amplitude of 2E0 and a phase

wave B has an amplitude of E0 and a phase constant of

wave C has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of zero

wave D has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of

wave E has an amplitude of 3E0 and a phase constant of

A light wave with an electric field amplitude of 2E0 and a phase

wave B has an amplitude of E0 and a phase constant of

wave C has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of zero

wave D has an amplitude of 2E0 and a phase constant of

wave E has an amplitude of 3E0 and a phase constant of