INTERFERENCE Xii

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
NAME: DEBDEEP DAN
CLASS: XII Sci. A
ROLL:
SUBJECT: PHYSICS
TOPIC:
INTERFERERNCE PATTERN
OF LIGHT
D. A. V PUBLIC SCHOOL
MIDNAPORE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my
physics teacher Mrs. Dipti Rani Das as well as our Principal Mr.
Banamali Biswal who gave me the golden opportunity to do this
project on the topic “Interference Of Light” and also for their
guidance and encouragement in carrying out this project work.
This project also helped me in gaining a lot of knowledge as I
did research and I came to know about so many things. I am
really thankful to them.
Secondly, I would like to thank my parents and friends who
helped me a lot in finalizing this project within limited time
frame.
1
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify to that, DEBDEEP DAN have successfully

completed the project prescribed by DAV Public School,
Midnapore under the guidance of Mrs. Dipti Rani Das for partial
fulfilment of project during the academic session 2022-23.
___________ ___________ __________

Signature of Signature of Signature of
Principal Subject teacher External
2
INDEX
TOPICS Page No.
1) AIM 4
2) THEORY 5
3) EXPERIMENT 6-7
4) Interference Pattern 8-10
5) Derivation 11-13
6) Observation 14
7) Graph 15
8) Condition 16
9) Bibliography 17
3
AIM
 To observe the interference pattern by

performing Double Slit Experiment.
 To derive the expression for fringe width.
 To draw the intensity vs. path difference
graph.
4
THEORY
 COHERENT SOURCES
The sources of light, which emit continuous light
waves of the same wavelength, same frequency and in
the same phase difference are called coherent sources.
Conditions to obtain coherent light :
1. Two sources should be single source or by same
device.
2. Two sources should give monochromatic light.
3. The path difference b/w light waves from 2 sources
should be small.
 INTERFERENCE OF LIGHT
It is the phenomenon of redistribution of light energy
in a medium on account of superposition of light wave
from 2 coherent sources. There are 2 types:
1. Constructive Interference.
2. Destructive Interference
5
EXPERIMENT
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
Set up the apparatus as in the Figure 1.
Figure1: Interference Pattern

The appearance of bright and dark fringes on screen can be
explained on the basis of interference of light. According
to Huygens principle, the monochromatic source of light
illuminating the slit S sends out spherical wavefronts. Let
the solid arcs represent the crests ant the dotted arcs
represents the troughs. These wavefronts reach the slits A
and B simultaneously which in turn, become sources of
6
secondary wavelets. Thus the 2 waves on superposition
produce interference.
The dots (.) represent the positions of constructive
interference, where crests of one wave falls on crests of the
other and trough falls on trough. The resultant Amplitude
and hence intensity of light is maximum at these positions.
The lines joining the dots lead to points C, E, G on the
screen.
Similarly, the crosses (x) represent the positions of
destructive interference, where crest of one wave falls on
trough of the other and vice-versa. The resultant amplitude
and hence intensity of light is minimum at these positions.
The lines joining the crosses lead to points D, F on the
screen.
Thus, we have Bright Fringes at C, E, and G and Dark
Fringes at D and F.
These bright and dark fringes are placed alternatively and
they are equally spaced. These are called INTEFERENCE
FRINGES.
7
INTERFERENCE PATTERNS
Let the waves from 2 coherent sources of light be represented as
y1 = a sinωt…… (1) y2 = b sin (ωt + θ)……..(2)
where a and b ate the respective amplitudes of 2 waves and θ is
the constant phase angle by which second wave leads the first
wave.
According to superposition principle, the displacement y of the
resultant wave at time t would be given by
y= y1+y2 = a sinωt + b sin(ωt + θ)
= a sinωt + b sinωt cosθ + b cosωt sinθ
y = sinωt(a+b cosθ) + cosωt.b sinθ………...(3)
put, a + b cosθ = A cosФ…(4) & b sinθ = A sinФ… (5)
Hence, y = sinωt.AcosФ + cosωt.AsinФ
= A(sinωt cosФ + cosωt sinФ)
y = A sin (wt +Ф) …………. (6)
Thus, the resultant wave is a harmonic wave of amplitude A.
Squaring (4) and (5) and adding
We get,
A = √a2 + b2 + 2ab cosθ ……….(7)
As resultant intensity I is directly proportional to the square of

the amplitude of the resultant wave
Thus, I α A2 i.e. I α a2 + b2 + 2ab cosθ… (8)
8
Constructive & Destructive
Interference
 Constructive Interference
I should be maximum, for which
Cosθmax = +1 so, θ = 0,2 π,4π,…..
i.e. θ = 2nπ;
where n = 0, 1, 2……
if x is the path difference, then
x=λθ/2π
x = λ (2n π)/2π
i.e. x=nλ
Hence, condition for constructive interference at a point is
that phase difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point
should be zero or an even integral multiple of π.
Path difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point should
be 0 or an integral multiple of full wavelength.
So, Amax=(a+b)
9
 Destructive Interference
I should be minimum, for which
Cosθmin = -1 so, θ = π ,3π,5π,…..
i.e. θ = (2n-1)π ;
where n = 1,2,3……
if x is the path difference, then
x=λθ/2π
x = λ ((2n-1) π)/2π
x=(2n-1)λ/2
Hence, condition for constructive interference at a point is
that phase difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point
should be an odd integral multiple of π.
Path difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point should
be an odd integral multiple of half the wavelength.
So, Amin= (a-b)
10
DERIVATION
Expression for Fringe Width in Interference
Looking at Figure 2,
Fig. 2.: Schematic Diagram
The intensity of light at the point on the screen will depend on

the path difference b/w the 2 waves arriving at that point. the
point C is at equal distance from A and B. Therefore, the path
difference b/w 2 waves reaching C is 0 and the point C is of
maximum intensity. It is called CENTRAL MAXIMUM.
Consider a point p at a distance x from C. The path difference
b/w 2 waves arriving at P,
dP = BP – AP…….(9)
Let O be the mid-point of AB, and
AB = EF =d , AE = BF = D
11
From the figure,
PE = PC – EC= x-d/2 & PF = PC + CF = x+d/2
By Pythagoras and Binomially,
BP= D[1 + (x + d/2)2/2D2]……..(10)
and AP= D[1 + (x - d/2)2/2D2]………(11)
Putting these values in (9), we get, path difference
BP-AP= D[1 + (x + d/2)2/2D2 - 1 - (x - d/2)2/2D2]
BP - AP= xd/D……………..(12)
For Bright Fringes

Path Difference = xd/D = nλ where n= 0,1,2…
x=nλD/d ……..(13)
For Dark Fringes

Path Difference = xd/D = (2n-1)λ/2 where n=1,2,3…
or x=(2n-1)λD/2d …..(14)
Comparison shows that dark interference fringes are situated in
b/w bright interference fringes and vice-versa
Separation b/w the centres of 2 consecutive bright fringes is the
width of dark fringe.
β = xn – xn-1 = nλD/d- (n-1)λD/d
β= λD/d……….(15)
12
Similarly, separation b/w the centres of 2 consecutive bright
fringes is the width of dark fringe.
Β’ = x’n – x’n-1 = [(2n-1)λD/2d]-[(2(n-1)-1) λD/2d]
β = β’= λD/d……….(16)
So, all bright and dark fringes are of equal width.
13
OBSERVATIONS
S.No. Wavelength Distance of Slit Fringe

λ (cm) screen & source Distance Width
D (cm) d (cm) β (cm)
1. 7 x 10-5 25 0.1 0.175
2. 7 x 10-5 50 0.1 0.35
14
GRAPH
Intensity Vs Path Difference
Angular separation of the fringes is just (λ/d). It is
independent of the position on the screen.
Further, at sites of constructive interference,
Imaxα R2max α (a+b) 2 = constant
Hence all bright interference bands have same intensity
At sites of destructive interference,
Imaxα R2max α (a-b) 2 = constant = 0 (at a=b)
Hence all dark interference bands have same (zero)
intensity.
Figure 3 represents the intensity of double slit interference
pattern as a function of path difference θ b/w the waves of
the screen.
Fig. 3.: Intensity Vs Path Difference Graph

15
CONDITIONS
For Sustained Interference
1.The 2 sources of light must be coherent i.e. they
continuous light waves of same wavelength or
frequency, which have either same phase of constant
path difference.
2.The 2 sources should be strong with least background.
3.The amplitudes of waves from 2 sources should
preferably be equal.
4.The 2 sources should preferably be monochromatic.
5.The coherent sources must be very close to each other.
6.The 2 sources should be point and narrow sources.
16
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 SITES
 http://www.google.com
 http://vsg.quasihome.com/interfer.html
 BOOKS
 Lakshmi Publication Physics Practical(XII)
 Physics N.C.E.R.T textbook.
 Comprehensive Chemistry Practical.
17

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INVESTIGATORY

This is to certify to that, DEBDEEP DAN have successfully

_____ _ ______

 To observe the interference pattern by

Young’s Double Slit Experiment

Set up the apparatus as in the Figure 1.

Figure1: Interference Pattern

As resultant intensity I is directly proportional to the square of

Fig. 2.: Schematic Diagram

The intensity of light at the point on the screen will depend on

For Bright Fringes

For Dark Fringes

S.No. Wavelength Distance of Slit Fringe

1. 7 x 10-5 25 0.1 0.175

2. 7 x 10-5 50 0.1 0.35

Fig. 3.: Intensity Vs Path Difference Graph

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