Wave Optics: Important Points

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WAVE OPTICS
Important Points:
1. The condition which allows us to use the principles of geometry is b 2 >> l λ
Where b = size of the object interacting with light
l = distance between the object and the screen

λ = wavelength of light.
2. Two light sources are said to be coherent if they emit waves of same frequency which are in
phase or which maintain a constant phase difference.
3. When two or more waves reach a point in space simultaneously, the resultant displacement at
that point at any instant of time is the algebraic sum of the displacements produced by the
individual waves. This is known as the principle of superposition.
b2
4. If << λ Fraunhofer diffraction is observed.
l
b2
5. If ≅ λ Fresnel diffraction is observed
l
6. In interference, Resultant intensity
φ
I = 4I0 cos 2 (Where is maximum intensity of each individual wave)
2
φ Is initial phase difference
λD
7. Fringe width β =
d
8. For two waves with intensities I1 and I 2 with phase φ resultant intensity
I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I2 cos φ
9. When un-polarized light of intensity I0 passes through a polarizer intensity of emergent light
I0
I=
2
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10. Bending of light at the edges of an obstacle or aperture is called diffraction. The phenomenon
of encroachment of light into the geometrical shadow of an obstacle is known as diffraction.
11. Diffraction is exhibited by both transverse and longitudinal waves.
12. Diffraction confirms wave nature of light.
13. Diffraction is due to the superposition of waves originating from different points of the
exposed portion of the same wave front.
14. Polarization of Light:
“The process of confining the vibrations of electric field vector of light into a single plane” is
known as polarization of light
15. Plane of Vibration or Plane of Polarization:
The plane which contains the vibrations of electric field of light (polarized light) is known as
plane of vibration or plane of polarization.
16. Law of Malus:
When the plane polarized light of intensity I 0 falls on a polarizer with an angle θ to the axis of
polarizer, then intensity of refracted light I = I0 cos 2 θ
17. Brewster’S Law:

For polarization by reflection µ = tan i p
µ → Refractive index of reflecting surface
i p → Angle of polarization
Very Short Answer Questions
1. What is Fresnel Distance?

A. Fresnel Distance:
The distance beyond which divergence of the beam of width ‘a’ become significant is called
Fresnel distance.
a2
Fresnel distance Z F ≈
λ
a = size of the aperture

λ = wave length of light
2. Give the justification for validity of ray optics?
a2
A. Fresnel distance Z F ≤ is the validity of ray optics.
λ
a2
If the distance between aperture and screen much smaller than i.e., diffraction pattern
λ
cannot be observed so ray optics is applicable.
3. What is Polarisation of Light?

A. The phenomenon in which vibration of light vector (electric vector) are confined to a
particular direction is called polarisation.
4. What is Malus Law?

A. Malus Law:
The intensity of polarized light transmitted through the analyzer varies as the square of the
cosine of the angle between the plane of transmission of the polarizer and analyzer.
I = I0cos2 θ Where θ is the angle between the axis of the polarizer and analyzer.
5. Explain Brewster’s Law.

A. Brewster’s Law:
The tangent of the angle of polarisation is equal to the refractive index of the reflecting
medium.
µ = Tan i p
At polarising angle the reflected ray and refracted ray are perpendicular to each other.
6. When does a monochromatic beam of light incident on a reflective surface get completely
transmitted?
a2
A. If Z F = then diffraction pattern is not observed then monochromatic beam of light incident
λ
on a reflective surface gets completely transmitted.
Short Answer Questions
1. Explain Doppler Effect in light. Distinguish between Red Shift and Blue Shift?
A. Doppler Effect Light:
The apparent change in the frequency due to relative motion between the source and observer is
called Doppler Effect.
If ‘v’ is the actual frequency and ‘ ν ' ’ is the apparent frequencies, then the relative change in
frequency
∆ν v ∆λ v
=− or =
ν c λ c
Here ‘c’ is the speed of light and ‘v’ is the velocity of the source which is small compared to
that of light. Doppler Effect in light is symmetric.
Red Shift and Blue Shift: - Apparent wavelength > Actual Wavelength.
Hence the spectrum of the radiation from the source of light shifts towards the red end of
spectrum. When a star is moving away from the Earth the wavelength increases and it looks
more reddish. This is red shift phenomenon. When the waves are received from a source
moving towards the observer, there is an apparent decrease in wavelength. This is called blue
shift.
2. What is total internal reflection? Explain the phenomenon using Huygens principle?
A. Let XY be a surface separating the two media (1) and (2) of refractive indices µ1 and µ2
respectively and let V1 and V2 be the speed of light waves in medium (1) and medium (2)
respectively. Let AC be a plane wave front incident on XY. Lines AA1and CC1 which are
normals to the incident plane wave front (i.e., AC) are called incident rays.
Huygens’principle:
If CN is the normal at the point C, then ∠C ' CN = i (angle of incidence). Angle of incidence is
also the angle which the incident plane wave front makes with the plane XY, i.e. ∠ACY = i .
The points A and C on this wave front will serve as the sources of disturbance and will give out
secondary wavelets. During the time the secondary wavelet from A strikes the surface XY at D,
the secondary wavelet from C would have travelled a distance CE in the medium-2 where the
distance CE is such that time taken by the secondary wavelet to travel a distance AD in the
medium-1 = time taken by the secondary wavelet to travel a distance CE in the medium-2.
i.e.
AD CE
= (As time = distance/velocity)............ (i)
V1 V2
Total Internal Reflection

We have seen that the radius of the secondary spherical wavelet from C in medium-2 given by
equation. (1)
AD V1 V
= or CE = 2 × AD
CE V2 V1
µ   AD 
CE =  1  CD sin i  as sin i = 
 µ2   CD 
CE > CD . In this case if a hemispherical wavelet is drawn with C as centre, the point D will lie
inside this wavelet. Since no tangent plane can be drawn from D to this wavelet. Since no
tangent plane can be drawn from D to this wavelet, there is no refracted plane wave front which
implies that no refraction is possible. But a reflected wave front in the medium-1 is possible.
This is due to the reason that the radius of the reflected hemispherical wavelet from C is equal
to CE ' (which is less than CD). This situation corresponds to total internal reflection.
3. Derive the expression for the intensity at a point where interference of light occurs.
Arrive at the conditions for maximum and zero intensity?
Interference:
A. The redistribution of energy due to super imposition of two or more waves is called
interference.
Derivation for Interference Pattern:

Consider two waves coming from S1 and S2
They interfere at a point ‘P’ on the screen. Their equations are given by
Y1 = a sin ωt
Y2 = a sin (ωt + φ )
Where φ is the phase difference between two waves

G
P
S1 x
S
Z z
O y
S2 D
1
G
The resultant wave equation is given by

Y = Y1 + Y2
Y = a sin ωt + a sin (ωt + φ )
= a sin ωt + a [sin ωt cos φ + cos ωt sin φ ]
= a sin ωt (1 + cos φ ) + a cos ωt sin φ
Let a (1 + cos φ ) = R cos θ ------ (1)
a sin φ = R sin θ ------ (2)
Y = R sin ωt cos θ + R sin θ cos ωt
= R sin (ωt + θ )
The above equation represent’s S.H.M and its amplitude is R

Squaring and Adding equations (1) and (2), we get
R 2 =  a (1 + cos φ )  + [ a sin φ ]
2 2
= a 2 1 + cos 2 φ + 2 cos φ + sin 2 φ 
= a 2 [ 2 + 2 cos φ ] = 2a 2 [1 + cos φ ]
2
R 2 = 4a 2 cos 2 φ / 2
As intensity Iα R 2
So, I = R 2 = 4a 2 cos 2 φ / 2
Condition for maximum intensity or bright fringe

cos (φ / 2 ) = ±1
φ = 0, 2π , 4π , 6π ,8π ,...., 2π
Path difference (∆x) = 0, λ , 2λ ,....nλ , where n = 0,1, 2,3,....
Maximum intensity at bright band = I max = 4a 2
Condition for minimum intensity or dark fringe

I min = 0 ⇒ 4a 2 cos 2 φ / 2 = 0
⇒ cos φ / 2 = 0
⇒ φ = π ,3π ,5π , 7π ,..... ( 2n − 1) π
Path difference (∆x) =

φλ λ 3λ 5λ 7λ
= , , , ,....
( 2n − 1) λ , where n = 1, 2,3,.....
2π 0 2 2 2 2
The intensity varies between a maximum of I = 4a2 and minimum of zero but energy is
conserved as shown in the figure.
Phase difference
4. Does the principle of conservation of energy hold for interference and diffraction
phenomena? Explain briefly?
A. The principle of conservation of energy holds good for both interference and diffraction.
In case of interference the energy is distributed equally to all bright fringes as all the bright
fringes are of equal intensity and all dark fringes are completely dark.
Where as a case of diffraction pattern, the bright fringes do not have equal intensity and dark
fringes are not completely dark but less bright than bright fringes. Hence the energy is not
distributed equally in case of diffraction but the energy is conserved.
5. How do you determine the resolving power of your eye?

A. Resolving Power:
The ability of an optical instrument to produce distinctly separate images of two objects located
very close to each other is called its resolving power.
Resolving Power of Eye:
Make black strips of equal width separated by white stripes. All the black strips should be of
equal width, while that of white stripes should increase from left to right. For example let the
black stripes have a width of 5 mm. Let the width of two white stripes be 0.5 mm each, the next
two white stripes be 1 mm each, the next 1.5 mm each, etc. Paste this pattern on a wall in the
room at the height of your eye.
Now watch the pattern with one eye. By moving away or closer to the wall, find the position
where you can just see some black stripes as separate stripes. All the black stripes to the left of
this stripe would merge into one another and would not be distinguished. The black stripes to
the right of this would be more clearly visible. If ‘d’ is the width of the white stripe and ‘D’ is
the distance of the wall from two crossed the eye. Then d/D is the resolution of the eye.
6. Discuss the intensity of transmitted light when a Polaroid sheet is rotated between two
crossed Polaroids?
A. When un-polarized light is incident on a polarizer, the transmitted light is linearly polarized.
If this light further passes through analyser, the intensity varies with the angle between the
transmission axes of polarized and analyser.
The intensity of the polarized light transmitted through the analyser is proportional to square
of the cosine of the angle between the plane of transmission of analyser and the plane of
transmission of polariser. This is known as Law of Malus.
I0
∴ The intensity of polarized light after passing through analyser is I = cos 2 θ .
2
A0
Where I0 is the intensity of un-polarized light. A = cos θ The amplitude of polarized light
2
after passing through analyser.
Long Answer Questions
1. What is Huygens’s principle? Explain the optical phenomenon of refraction using

Huygen’s Principle?
A. Huygens’s Principle:-
a) Every point on the primary wave front gives out secondary wavelets.
b) These secondary wavelets move in the forward direction with speed of light.
c) The position of the new wave front is obtained by drawing a tangent drawn to the edges of
these wavelets at any instant.
Refraction:
Consider the plane wave front AB incident on a plane refracting surface PP1 at A at an angle
of incidence ‘ i ’ as shown. The surface PP1 separates a medium 1 and medium 2 in which
velocities of light are V1 and V2 respectively.
Let the secondary wavelets from B reach PP1 at C in a time t so that BC = V1t. During this
time interval, the wavelets emitted from A travel a distance V2t. The new refracted wave front
is EC.
BC V1t
In the right angle triangle ABC sin i = =
AC AC
AE V2t
In the right angle triangle AEC, sin r = =
AC AC
sin i V1
∴ = = Constant. Which proves the Snell’s law of refraction.
sin r V2
If r < i , the speed of light in the second medium is less than that in the first medium..If speed
c c
of light in vacuum is C, then n1 = and n2 = which are the refractive indices of medium (1)
v1 v2
and (2) respectively n1 sin i = n2 sin r . This is Snell’s law of refraction.
λ1 BC V1
If λ1 and λ 2 are the wavelengths in of medium (1) and (2) respectively, then = =
λ 2 AE V2
Since the light travels faster in the rarer medium than in the denser medium, the wavelength of
a light wave smaller in a denser medium than in a rarer medium.
2. Distinguish between coherent and incoherent addition of waves. Develop the theory of
constructive and destructive interference?
A. Coherent Sources:
Two sources are said to be coherent if they emit the waves of same wave length and same
amplitude and constant phase difference. The two slits illuminated by a single source, acts as
coherent sources.
Incoherent Sources:
Two sources are said to be incoherent if they emit waves of different wave length, different
amplitude and different phase
Two independent sources can never be coherent, even though wave length two amplitude are
same they differ in phase.
Constructive and destructive interference:
Interference is based on the superposition principle according to which at a particular point in
the medium, the resultant displacement produced by a number of waves is the vector sum of
the displacements produced by each of the waves.
Consider two waves coming from s1 and s2 .Consider a point P for which S1 P = S2 P If the
displacement produced by the source S1at the point P is given by y1 = a cos ωt then, the
displacement produced by the source S2 (at the point P) will be given by y2 = a cos ωt
Thus, the resultant of displacement at P would be given by

y = y1 + y2 = 2a cos ωt
Since the intensity is the proportional to the square of the amplitude, the resultant intensity will
be given by I = 4 I 0
Where I0 represents the intensity produced by each one of the individual sources; I0 is
proportional to a2.
Constructive Interference:
If two waves are moving in the same direction superimpose each other, at some points crest of
one wave meets with crest of other. (Or) trough of one wave meets with trough of another
i.e. two waves meet in phase then amplitude and intensity are maximum. This interference is
called constructive interference.
In fact at any point on the perpendicular bisector of S1S2, the intensity will be 4I0.
The two sources are said to interfere constructively and we have what is referred to as
constructive interference. From fig. (a).
S 2Q − S1Q = 2λ
If we have two coherent sources S1and S2 vibrating in phase, then for an arbitrary point P
whenever the path difference,
S1 P ~ S2 P = nλ ( n = 0,1, 2,3,...)
We will have constructive interference and the resultant intensity will be 4I0; the sign ~
between S1P and S2P represents the difference between S1P and S2P.
Destructive Interference:
If two waves superimpose in opposite phase i.e. crest of one wave meet with trough of another
then intensity and amplitude of the resultant wave is minimum. This interference is called
destructive interference. From fig.(b)
S 2 R − S1 R = −2.5λ
The two displacements are now out of phase and the two displacements will cancel out to give
zero intensity. This is referred to as destructive interference.
On the other hand, if the point P is such that the path difference,
 1
S1 P ~ S 2 P =  n +  λ ( n = 0,1, 2,3,...)
 2
We will have destructive interference and the resultant intensity will be zero.
From Fig. (c) Let the phase difference between the two displacements be φ . Thus, if the
displacement produced by S1is given by
y1 = a cos ωt
Then, the displacement produced by S2 would be
y2 = a cos ( ωt + φ )
And the resultant displacement will be given by

y = y1 + y2
= a cos ωt + cos (ωt + φ ) 
= 2a cos (φ / 2 ) cos (ωt + φ / 2 )
The amplitude of the resultant displacement is 2a cos (φ / 2 ) and therefore the intensity at that
point will be
I = 4 I 0 cos 2 (φ / 2 )
If φ = 0, ±2π , ±4π .... which corresponds to the condition given by constructive interference
leading to maximum intensity
On the other hand, if φ = ±π , ±3π , ±5π .... which corresponds to the condition given by
destructive interference leading to zero intensity.
The positions of maxima and minima will not change with time. The positions of maxima and
minima will also vary rapidly with time and a “time-averaged” intensity distribution. When
this happens, we will observe an average intensity that will be given by
< I >= 4 I 0 < cos 2 (φ / 2 ) >
Where angular brackets represent time averaging. cos 2 (φ / 2 ) Will randomly vary between 0
and 1 and the average value will be 1/2. The resultant intensity will be given by I = 2 I 0
at all points.
When the phase difference between the two vibrating sources changes rapidly with time, we
say that the two sources are incoherent and when this happens the intensities just add up. This
is indeed what happens when two separate light sources illuminate a wall.
3. Describe young’s experiment for interference and hence arrive at the expression for
‘fringe width’?
A. Consider two pin holes S1 and S2 on an opaque screen. The light waves spread out from the
source ‘S’ and falls on both slits S1 and S2. Now the two slits S1 and S2. Behave like coherent
sources.
From the source ‘S’ spherical wave fronts are produced. The spherical waves coming from S1
and S2 will produce interference fringes on the screen GG’. The point ‘P’ on the screen ‘GG’
is corresponding to a maximum intensity.
S 2 P − S1 P = nλ , where n = 0,1, 2,3,....
 2  x + d 2   2  x − d 2 
( S2 P ) − ( S1 P ) = D +    − D + 
2 2
Now  
  2     2  
Where S1S2 = d and OP = x
2xd
S 2 P − S1 P =
S 2 P + S1 P
If x, d<<<D then negligible error will be introduced.

So we can replace S2 P + S1 P by 2D
S 2 P + S1 P = 2 D
2xd
S 2 P − S1 P =
S 2 P + S1 P
xd
S 2 P − S1 P =
D
Hence we will have constructive interference resulting in a bright region.

nλ D
When x = xn = . n = 0, ±1, ±2,....
d
We will have destructive interference resulting a dark region
 1  λD
When x = xn =  n +  ; n = 0, ±1, ±2
 2 d
The dark and bright bands are called fringes.

The distances between two consecutive bright and dark fringes is called band width, which is
given by
β = xn+1 − xn
λD
β=
d
Which is the expression for the fringe width.

G
P
S1 x
x
S d
Z z
O y
S2 D
1
G
4. What is diffraction? Discuss diffraction pattern obtained from a single slit?

A. Diffraction:
The phenomenon of bending of light rays at the edges and corners of an obstacle and
spreading of light into the geometrical shadow of the obstacle in called diffraction of light.
Fraunhoffer diffraction at a single slit:
Let S be a point source of light, emitting monochromatic light. The light rays emitted by the
point source are made parallel with the help of a converging lens L1. The emergent parallel
rays are allowed to pass through a narrow rectangular slit S1. The diffracted rays are focused
on the screen S2 using another convex lens L2. The diffraction pattern is seen on the screen.
The source, converging lenses, single slit and the screen are kept perpendicular to the plane of
paper as shown in the figure.
L1 L1 L2
S1 Diffraction
S
pattern
S2 Screen
Slit
Diffraction Pattern:
The non uniform distribution of light energy obtained on the screen due to the bending of light
rays at the edges of the slit is called the diffraction pattern. The pattern consists of a broad and
intense central maximum and a number of narrow and fainter maxima called secondary
maxima on both sides of the central maxima. The width of the central maximum is twice as
greater as that of the secondary maxima. In between the maxima then are minima called
secondary minima.
Explanation: The maxima and the minima found in the diffraction pattern can be explained
on the basis of Huygens principle. Each point on the incident wave front near the slit can be
considered as a source of secondary wavelets. The resultant effect in a particular direction can
be found by adding the secondary wavelets emitted in that direction using the principle of
superposition. For simplicity let us consider the two dimensional case of the slit.
Theory of diffraction of light at single slit:
Let ‘a’ be the width of the slit ‘ λ ’is the wavelength of monochromatic light used and ‘D’ is
the distance of screen from the slit.
i) Central Maximum: All points on the wave front between A and B are in phase.
Plane wave front
a C O
B
D
The second secondary minimum is located at another point P2 when the path difference is 2λ
i.e., 2λ = a sin θ 2
Similarly of the path difference is 3λ i.e., 3λ = a sin θ3 and then third secondary minimum is
obtained. In general for the nth secondary minimum, we have difference = nλ

a sin θ n = nλ
nλ
sin θ n =
a
When n = 1, 2, 3.... But not n = 0 where there is a central bright fringe.
Positions of Secondary Maxima:
Between each pair of minima there is a secondary maximum (bright fringe).
3λ
The location of the first secondary maximum is given by = a sin θ11
2
Where θ11 is the angle at which the rays are travelling with CO such that the ray from the top
3λ
of the slit travels a distance more than the ray from the bottom edge.
2
5λ
The second secondary maximum is located on the screen when the path difference is
2
5λ
i.e., = a sin θ 2
2
Consider a point 0 on the screen which lies on the perpendicular bisector of the slit as shown
in fig.
The wavelets which fall on the lens parallel to CO ( ie θ = 0o ) meet at point O in the same
phase as there in no path difference between them. Thus all the waves arriving at O in phase
give rise to central maximum is central bright fringe is obtained at ‘O’.
Position of Secondary Minima:
Let us consider a point P1 on the screen (fig) let the rays which reach the point P1 make an
angle θ1 with CO. The rays from points A and B will have a path difference AN given by
AN = a sin θ1 .
A
A
a
C
N
B
B
Diffracted rays
Incident ray
If the path difference is λ (the wave length of light used) then the point P1 will have minimum
intensity i.e., point P1 is the first secondary minimum.
Then the location of the first secondary minimum is given by λ = a sin θ1 .
In general for the nth secondary maximum, the condition is
λ
a sin θ n1 = ( 2n + 1) Where n = 1, 2, 3.....
2
The intensity of diffraction pattern of a single slit as a function of sin θ is as shown in the
figure
5. What is resolving power of Optical instrument? Derive the condition under which the
images are resolved?
A. Resolving Power:
The ability of an optical instrument to produce distinctly separate images of two objects
located very close to each other is called its Resolving Power.
Consider a parallel beam of light falling on a convex lens. If the lens is free from aberrations,
the beam will get focused to a point. But due to diffraction the beam is focused to a spot of
finite area. The pattern on the focal plane consists of a central bright region surrounded by
concentric dark and bright rings .The radius of the central bright region is approximately
1.22λ f 0.61λ f
r0 = =
2a a
Where f is the focal length of the lens and 2a is the diameter of the lens.
Even though the size of the spot is very small, it plays an important role in determining the limit of
resolution of optical instruments like a telescope or a microscope
Telescope:
For two stars to be resolved
0.61λ f 0.61λ
f ∆θ = r0 = ⇒ ∆θ =
a a
The telescope will have better resolving power if ‘a’ is large. It is for this reason that for better
resolution, a telescope must have a large diameter objective.
Microscope:
In the case of a microscope, the object is slightly beyond f and the magnification is .From the figure
D ≈ 2 tan β where 2 β is the angle subtended by the diameter of the objective lens at the focus of the
f
microscope.
When the separation between two points in microscopic specimens is comparable to the
wavelength of the light, the diffraction effects become important. The image of a point object
Will again be a diffraction pattern whose size in the image plane will be -
 1.22λ 
Vθ = V  
 D 
Two objects whose images are closer than this distance will not be resolved, they will be seen as
one. The corresponding minimum separation, dmin, in the object plane is given by
  1.22λ   1.22λ V 1.22 f λ

d min = V   / m = D . m = D
  D 
∴ d min =
1.22λ
=
1.22λ
2 tan β 2sin β (∵ D f ≈ 2 tan β )
If the medium between the object and the objective lens has refractive index ‘n’, then
1.22λ
d min =
2n sin β
The product n sin β is called the numerical aperture.
PROBLEMS
1. Monochromatic light of wavelength 589 nm is incident from air on a water surface.

What are the wavelength, frequency and speed of (a) reflected and (b) refracted light?
Refractive index of water is 1.33.
A. Wavelength of light λ = 589 nm = 589 ×10−9 m
Refractive index of water µ w =1.33
(a) For Reflected Light

(i) Wavelength of reflected light λ = 589 ×10−9 m
c 3 ×108
(ii) Frequency of reflected light υ = =
λ 589 ×10−9
Where c is velocity of light (∵ Speed of light c = 3 × 108 m/s)
υ = 5.09 x 1014 Hz.

(iii) As the medium takes place in the same medium so,
Speed of reflected light c = 3 x 108 m/s.

(b) For Refracted Light (In this process wavelength and speed changes but frequency
remains the same)
λ 589 ×10−9
Wavelength of refracted light λ' = = = 4.42 ×10−7 m
µ 1.33
c 3×108
Velocity of refracted light v = = = 2.25 ×108 m/s
µ 1.33
2. What is the shape of the wave front in each of the following cases?
(a) Light diverging from a point source.
(b) Light emerging out of a convex lens when a point source is placed at its focus.
(c) The portion of the wave front of light from a distant star intercepted by the earth.
A. (a) Spherical wave front
(b) Plane wave front
(c) Plane wave front
3. (a) The refractive index of glass is 1.5. What is the speed of light in glass? (Speed of
light in vacuum is 3.0 x 108 m/s)

(b) Is the speed of light in glass independent of the colour of light? If not, which of the
two colours red and violet travels slower in a glass prism?
A. (a) Refractive index of glass µ glass = 1.5
Speed of light in vacuum c = 3 x 108 m/s
c 3 ×108
Speed of light in glass v = =
µ 1.5
v = 2 x 108 m/s
(b) No, the speed of light is not independent of colour of light.

As we know that the refractive index of violet is greater than red.
µV > µR
So, velocity of violet is less than the velocity of red. Therefore, violet colour travels slower in
glass, than the red colour
vV < vR
4. In a Young’s double-slit experiment, the slits are separated by 0.28mm and the screen is
placed 1.4m away. The distance between the central bright fringe and the fourth bright
fringe is measured to be 1.2cm. Determine the wavelength of light used in the experiment?
A. d = 0.28mm = 0.2810−3 m, D = 1.4m,
x4 = 1.2cm = 1.2 × 10−2 m
P0sition of nth bright fringe,
Dλ Dλ
xn = n Or x4 = 4
d d
x4 d 1.2 × 10−2 × 0.28 × 10−3

∴ λ= =
4D 4 × 1.4
= 6 × 10−7 m = 6000 A0 .
5. In Young’s double-slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength λ , the

intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is λ , is k units. What is
the intensity of light at a point where path difference is λ / 3 ?
φ
A. I = 4 I o cos2 = 4 I o = k
2
λ
Path difference =
3
2π
Phase difference =
3
φ k
I = 4 I o cos 2 = 4 I o cos 2 π / 3 = I o =
2 4
6. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths (650 nm and 520 nm is used to obtain
interference fringes in a Young’s double-slit experiment;
(a) Find the distance of the third bright fringe on the screen from the central maximum
for wavelength 650 nm?
(b) What is the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to
both the wavelength coincide?
A. Wavelength λ1 = 650 nm = 650 ×10−9 m
And λ 2 = 520 nm = 520 ×10−9 m
(a) For third fringe bright, n = 3

The distance of third bright fringe from central maximum
nλD D 3 × 650 ×10−9 ×1.2

x= = 3 × 650 ×10−9 × m = = 1.17 ×10 −3 m .
d d 2 ×10−3
(b) Let nth bright fringe due to wavelength λ 2 = 520 nm, coincide with (n + 1)th bright fringe
due to wavelength λ1 = 650 nm.
D D
i.e., nλ 2 = (n − 1)λ1
d d
n × 520 ×10 −9 = (n − 1)650 ×10 −9
n = 5.
D D
The least distance x = nλ 2 = 5 × 520 ×10 −9
d d
D
x = 2600 ×10−9 m
d
1.2 ×10−9
= 2600 × −3
m = 1.56 ×10 −3 m = 1.56 mm.
2 ×10
7. In a double-slit experiment the angular width of a fringe is found to be 0.20 on a screen

placed 1m away. The wavelength of light used is 600 nm. What will be the angular width
of the fringe if the entire experimental apparatus is immersed in water? Take refractive
index of water to be 4/3?
A. Angular fringe width.
β Dλ / d λ λ λ1
θ= = = Or d = =
D D d θ θ1
λ' λ/µ θ 0.2°

or θ ' = .θ = .θ = = = 0.6°
λ λ µ 4/3
8. What is Brewster angle (Refractive index of glass = 1.5) for air to glass transition?
A. From Brewster law, tan i p = µ = 1.5
∴ Brewster angle, i p = tan −1 (1.5 ) = 56.3°
0
9. Light of wavelength 5000 A falls on a plane reflecting surface. What are the wavelength
and frequency of the reflected light? For what angle of incidence is the reflected ray
normal to the incident ray?
A. Wavelength of reflected light = Wavelength of incident light
Or λ = 5000° = 5 × 10−7 m
Frequency of reflected light,
c 3.0 × 108
v= = = 6 × 1014 Hz
λ 5 × 10−7
By law of reflection, ∠i = ∠r
Given ∠i + ∠r = 90°
∴∠i = 45°
10. Estimate the distance for which ray optics is a good approximation for an aperture of
4mm and wavelength 400nm?
A. d = 4mm = 4 × 10−3 m, λ = 400nm = 4 × 10−7 m
DF =
d2
=
( 4 × 10 )
−3 2
= 40m.
λ 4 × 10−7
Hence ray optics is valid up to a distance of 40m from the aperture.

Wave Optics: Important Points

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1. The condition which allows us to use the principles of geometry is b 2 >> l λ

Where b = size of the object interacting with light

l = distance between the object and the screen

φ Is initial phase difference

17. Brewster’S Law:

µ → Refractive index of reflecting surface

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is Fresnel Distance?

a = size of the aperture

2. Give the justification for validity of ray optics?

3. What is Polarisation of Light?

4. What is Malus Law?

5. Explain Brewster’s Law.

Short Answer Questions

Total Internal Reflection

Derivation for Interference Pattern:

Where φ is the phase difference between two waves

The resultant wave equation is given by

Y = a sin ωt + a sin (ωt + φ )

= a sin ωt + a [sin ωt cos φ + cos ωt sin φ ]

= a sin ωt (1 + cos φ ) + a cos ωt sin φ

Let a (1 + cos φ ) = R cos θ ------ (1)

a sin φ = R sin θ ------ (2)

Y = R sin ωt cos θ + R sin θ cos ωt

The above equation represent’s S.H.M and its amplitude is R

= a 2 1 + cos 2 φ + 2 cos φ + sin 2 φ 

Condition for maximum intensity or bright fringe

Path difference (∆x) = 0, λ , 2λ ,....nλ , where n = 0,1, 2,3,....

Maximum intensity at bright band = I max = 4a 2

Condition for minimum intensity or dark fringe

⇒ φ = π ,3π ,5π , 7π ,..... ( 2n − 1) π

Path difference (∆x) =

5. How do you determine the resolving power of your eye?

Long Answer Questions

1. What is Huygens’s principle? Explain the optical phenomenon of refraction using

and (2) respectively n1 sin i = n2 sin r . This is Snell’s law of refraction.

Thus, the resultant of displacement at P would be given by

Then, the displacement produced by S2 would be

And the resultant displacement will be given by

= a cos ωt + cos (ωt + φ ) 

= 2a cos (φ / 2 ) cos (ωt + φ / 2 )

< I >= 4 I 0 < cos 2 (φ / 2 ) >

Where S1S2 = d and OP = x

If x, d<<<D then negligible error will be introduced.

Hence we will have constructive interference resulting in a bright region.

We will have destructive interference resulting a dark region

The dark and bright bands are called fringes.

Which is the expression for the fringe width.

4. What is diffraction? Discuss diffraction pattern obtained from a single slit?

obtained. In general for the nth secondary minimum, we have difference = nλ

intensity i.e., point P1 is the first secondary minimum.

Then the location of the first secondary minimum is given by λ = a sin θ1 .

In general for the nth secondary maximum, the condition is

  1.22λ   1.22λ V 1.22 f λ

The product n sin β is called the numerical aperture.

1. Monochromatic light of wavelength 589 nm is incident from air on a water surface.

Refractive index of water µ w =1.33