RAJA BALWANT SINGH ENGINEERING TECHNICAL CAMPUS, BICHPURI, AGRA

B. Tech-Ist Semester/ 2nd Semester

INTERFERENCE OF LIGHT
1. What do you understand by coherent sources? How coherent sources are produced?
2. Discuss the phenomenon of interference of light due to thin films and find the conditions of maxima and
minima. Show that the interference patterns of reflected and transmitted monochromatic light are
complementary.
3. Explain why a thin transparent film appears colored when observed in reflected light. Why is an extended
source necessary to observe the bands? Why are colours not observed in case of thick film?
4. White light falls normally on a film of soapy water whose thickness is 5×10-5cm and refractive index 1.33.
4𝜇𝑡
Which wavelength in the visible region will be reflected strongly?[Ans. 5320Ǻ, Hint- λ = (2𝑛+1), μ=1.33,t
= 5×10-5cm, n= 0,1,2….λ = 26600, 8886Ǻ, 5320Ǻ, 3800Ǻ, λ = 26.6×10-5/(2n+1) (visible region
wavelength 4.0 x10−5cm to 7.5 x10−5cm),Ans. 5320Ǻ is most strongly reflected].
5. A soap film of refractive index 1.43 is illuminated by white light incident at an angle of 300. The refracted
light is examined by a spectroscope in which dark band corresponding to the wavelength 6×10 -7 m is
𝑛𝜆
observed. Calculate the thickness of the film.[Hint- t = 2𝜇𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑟,i=300 ,μ=1.43,n= 1, λ= 6×10-7 m, we know
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖
that sinr = ,sini =sin300 , we get sinr= 0.38 using sinr in cosr= √1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑟 we get cos r, now using all
𝜇
these values we get t. Ans. t= 2.28 x 10−5 𝑐𝑚]
6. Light of wavelength 5893Å is reflected at nearly normal incidence from a soap film of refractive index
1.42. What is the least thickness of the film that will appear (i) dark (ii) bright?[Hint- for normal incidence
(dark)r = 0 and cos r= 1,2μt = nλ,t=nλ/2μ for least thickness n=1,λ = 5893 x10−8 ,μ= 1.42 ,for normal
incidence (bright)r = 0 and cos r= 1,t= (2n − 1)λ/4μ for least thickness n=1.Ans.for dark t= 2075Ǻ, for
bright t= 1037.5Ǻ
7. Discuss the formation of interference fringes due to a wedge-shaped thin film seen by normally reflected
sodium light and obtain an expression for the fringe width.
8. Light of wavelength 6000Å falls normally on a thin wedge-shaped film of refractive index 1.4 forming
fringes that are 2.0 mm apart. Find the angle of the wedge in seconds. [Ans. 21.96 sec, Hint: w = λ/2µθ, θ
= λ/2µw, λ = 6000×10-10 m, w = 2×10-3 m, θ = 1.071×10-4 rad = 1.071×10-4×(180/π) ×60×60 = 21.96 sec].
9. Two plane glass surfaces in contact along one edge are separated at the opposite edge by a thin wire. If 20
fringes are observed between these edges in sodium light for normal incidence, what is the thickness of
the wire? [Ans. 5.89×10-6m, w = λ/2µθ, tan θ = θ = t/x, t = x θ = (20w). (λ/2w) = 10λ = 10×5890×10-10 m
= 5.89×10-6m].
10. Two plane rectangular pieces of glass are in contact at one edge and separated by a hair at the opposite
edge so that a wedge is formed. When the light of wavelength 6000Å falls normally on the wedge, nine
interference fringes are observed. What is the thickness of the hair? [Ans. 2.7×10-6m, Hint: w = λ/2µθ, for
µ = 1, θ = λ/2w = t/x = t/9w, t = 9λ/2 = 9×6000×10-10/ 2 = 2.7×10-6m].
11. Describe and explain the formation of Newton’s rings in reflected monochromatic light. Prove that in
reflected light (i) the diameters of bright rings are proportional to the square roots of odd natural numbers
and (ii) the diameters of dark rings are proportional to the square roots of natural numbers.
12. Explain briefly why Newton’s rings are circular.

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13. Show that the diameter Dn of nth Newton’s rings, when two surfaces of radii R1 and R2 are placed in
1 1 4𝑛𝜆
contact, is given by the relation ±𝑅 = .
𝑅1 2 𝐷𝑛2
14. Newton’s rings are observed normally in the reflected light of wavelength 6000 Å. The diameter of the
10th dark ring is 0.50 cm. Find the radius of curvature of the lens and the thickness of the film. [Ans. 106
cm, 3×10-4cm, Hint: Dn2 = 4nλR, D10 = 0.50cm, n = 10, λ = 6000×10-8cm R = 106 cm, t = r2/2R = D2/8R
= 3×10-4cm].
15. Newton’s rings are observed by keeping a spherical surface of 100cm radius on a glass plate. If the
diameter of the 15th bright ring is 0.590 cm and the diameter of the 5th ring is 0.336 cm, what is the
wavelength of the light used? [Ans. 5.88×10-5cm, Hint: λ = (D2n+p-D2n)/4pR, p = 10, D15 = 0.590cm, D5 =
0.336cm].
16. In Newton’s ring experiment the diameter of the 4th and 12th rings are 0.400 cm and 0.700 cm respectively.
Deduce the diameter of the 20th dark ring. [Ans. 9.06×10-2cm, Hint: D2n+p-D2n = 4pλR, D212- D24 =
4×8×λ×R, D220- D24 = 4×16×λ×R, (D212- D24)/ ( D220- D24) = ½, D220 = 2D212 - D24 = 0.82, D = 0.0906cm].

DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT

1. What do you mean by diffraction of light? Distinguish between Fresnel and Fraunhofer classes of
diffraction.
2. Obtain the expression for the intensity distribution due to Fraunhofer diffraction at a single slit.OR
Describe Fraunhofer diffraction due to a single slit and deduce the positions of the maxima and minima.
1 1 1
Show that the relative intensities of successive maxima are nearly 1: 25 :61:121: ……..OR Discuss the
phenomenon of Fraunhofer’s diffraction at a single slit and show that the relative intensities of the
4 4 4
successive maximum are nearly 1: 9𝜋2 : 25𝜋2 : 49𝜋2: ……….
3. Discuss the Fraunhofer diffraction at a double slit. What is the effect of increasing (i) slit width (ii)
wavelength?
4. Give the construction and theory of plane transmission grating and explain the formation of spectra by it.
Explain what are the absent spectra in the grating.
5. What do you understand by the missing orders spectrum? What particular spectra would be absent if the
width of the transparencies and opacities of the grating are equal? OR What do you understand by missing
order spectrum? Show that only first order is possible if the width of the grating element is less than twice
the wavelength of light.
6. What do you understand by the dispersive power of grating? Show that the dispersive power of grating
1
can be expressed as where all the terms have their usual meaning.
√[(𝑒+𝑑)/𝑛]2 −𝜆2
7. Explain Rayleigh’s criterion of resolution. Define the resolving power of an optical instrument.
8. What do you understand by the resolving power of a grating? Derive the necessary expression.
9. Light of wavelength 5500Å falls normally on a slit of width 22.0×10-5 cm. Calculate the angular position
of the first two minima on either side of the central maximum. [Ans. ±14.29o, ±30o, Hint: esinθ = mλ, m
= 1, sinθ1 = 0.25, θ1 = 14.29o, m = 2, sin θ2 = ½, θ2 = 30o].
10. Light of wavelength 5000Å is incident normally on a slit. The first minimum of the diffraction pattern is
observed to lie at a distance of 5 mm from the central maximum on a screen placed at a distance of 2 m
from the slit. Calculate the width of the slit. [Ans. 0.02 cm, Hint: e sin θ = ± mλ, m = 1, sin θ = θ = λ/e =
y/D = 0.5/200, e = 0.02 cm].
11. A light of wavelength 6000Å falls normally on a single slit of width 0.10 mm. Calculate the total angular
width of the central maximum and also the linear width as observed on a screen placed 1 meter away.
[Ans. 1.2×10-2 rad, 1.2 cm, Hint: e = 0.01 cm, λ = 6000×10-8 cm, m = 1, sin θ = θ = λ/e = 6×10-3 rad, 2θ =
12×10-3 rad, θ = y/D, 2y = 2D θ = 2×102×6×10-3 = 1.2 cm].
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12. Calculate the angle at which the first dark band and the next bright band are formed in the Fraunhofer
diffraction pattern of a slit 0.3 mm wide. (λ= 5890Å). [Ans. 0.112o, 0.168o, Hint: Dark band, m = 1, sin θ
= λ/a = 0.00196, θ = 0.112o, Bright band, m = 1, sin θ = (3λ/2)/a = 0.00294, θ = 0.168o].
13. A single slit of width 0.14 mm is illuminated normally by monochromatic light and diffraction bands are
observed on a screen 2 m away. If the center of the second dark band is 1.6 cm from the middle of the
central bright band, deduce the wavelength of light. [Ans. 5600Ǻ, Hint: m = 2, e = 0.014 cm, D = 200 cm,
y2 = 1.6 cm, e sin θ = mλ, sin θ = θ = 2λ/e = y2/D, λ = 5.6×10-5 cm].
14. Calculate the wavelength of light whose first diffraction maximum in the diffraction pattern due to a single
slit falls at 300 and coincides with the first minimum of red light of wavelength 6500Å. [Ans. 4333.3Ǻ,
Hint: Maximum, e sin θ=(2m+1)λ/2, e sin θ=3 λ/2, Minimum : e sin θ = 1.λ1, 1.5 λ = 1.λ1 = 6500, λ =
4333.3 Ǻ].
15. A parallel beam of monochromatic light is allowed to be incident normally on a plane grating having 1250
lines per cm and a second-order spectral line is observed to be deviated through 300. Calculate the
wavelength of the spectral line. [Ans. 2×10-4 cm, Hint: (e + d)sin θ = nλ, n = 2, θ = 30o, N (e+d) = 1 cm
= 1250 (e+d)].
16. Find the angular separation of 5048 Å and 5016Å wavelength in the second-order spectrum obtained by a
plane diffraction grating having 15000 lines per inch. [Ans. 3.78×10-4 radian, Hint: 15000 (e+d) = 2.54
cm, (e+d) sin θ = nλ, n = 2, λ1 = 5048×10-8 cm, λ2 = 5016×10-8 cm, sin θ1 = 0.5924, θ1 = 36o 20’, sin θ2
= 0.5962, θ2 = 36o 36’, θ2-θ1 = 16’].
17. Monochromatic light from a He-Ne laser (λ= 6328Å) is incident normally on a diffraction grating 6000
lines/cm. Find the angles at which one would observe the first and second-order maxima. [Ans. 22o 20’,
49o 28’, Hint: 6000 (a+b) = 1 cm, λ = 6328×10-8 cm, (a+b) sin θ = nλ, sin θ1 = 0.38, sin θ2 = 0.76, θ1 =22o
20’, θ2= 49o 28’].
18. Light is incident normally on a grating 0.5 cm wide with 2500 lines. Find the angles of diffraction for the
principal maxima of the two sodium lines in the first-order spectrum. Are the two lines resolved? [Ans.
17.1o, 17.2o, Yes, Hint: N(e+d) = 0.5 cm, (e+d) = 1/5000, λ1 = 5890Ǻ, λ2 = 5896Ǻ, n = 1, (e+d) sin θ = nλ,
θ1 = 17.1o, θ2 = 17.2o, λ = 5893Ǻ, dλ = 6Ǻ, λ/dλ = nN, n = 1, N = 982<2500, well resolved].
19. Light of wavelength 5000 Å falls on a grating normally. Two adjacent principal maxima occur at Sin =
0.2 and Sin = 0.3 respectively. Calculate the grating element. If the width of the grating surface is 2.5
cm, calculate its resolving power in second order. [Ans. 5×10-4cm, 10000, Hint: (e+d) sin θ1 = nλ, (e+d)
sin θ2 = (n+1) λ, (e+d) = λ/(sin θ2 - sin θ1) = 5×10-4cm, N = 2.5/(e+d) = 5000, R.P. = 2N = 10000].
20. In the second-order spectrum of a plane diffraction grating a certain spectral line appears at an angle of
100, while another line of wavelength 5x10-9 cm greater appears at an angle 3’’ greater. Find the
wavelength of the spectral lines and the maximum grating width required to resolve them. [Ans 6063×
10-8 cm, 4.2 cm, Hint: dλ = 5×10-9 cm, θ = 10o, dθ = 3’’ = (3/60×60) × π/180 rad., (e+d) sin θ = nλ, (e+d)
cos θ dθ = ndλ, λ = (sin θ/cosθ) (dλ/dθ) = 6063×10-8 cm, λ/dλ = nN, N = 6063, Width = N (e+d) = N
(nλ/sinθ) = 4.2cm].