7.3.

6 Interference of waves

1. An interference pattern occurs when wave – trains coming from coherent

sources are in the same place and in the same time cross and superposition
occurs.

2. Coherent Sources are those which emit waves of the same wavelength or
frequency which are always in phase with each other or have a constant phase
difference.

Two coherent sources of light can be produced by using a single primary source
of light.

3. Conditions for two sources of light to produce an observable interference

pattern

i) Coherent sources are required.

ii) The amplitudes of the superposing waves must be about equal so that
complete cancellation can occur.

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Explanation of the formation of the interference pattern of light waves in

terms of phase difference between the two wave trains.

Constructive Interference

Suppose A and B are two sources of light having the same wavelength and
amplitude of vibrations and their vibrations are in phase. Hence they are
coherent sources.

Their combined effect is found by the principle of superposition.

 At X, AX=BX since X is equidistant from A and B.

 The path difference between the waves is 0

 Waves arrive in phase at X. Constructive Interference occurs and a bright

band is observed.

 In general at any point Y a permanent bright band is obtained if the path

difference is 0 or BY-AY = nλ.

Where λ is the wavelength of the sources A,B, and n = 1,2,3 and so on.

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 Interference

Destructive Interference

 At P, the distance BP is half a wavelength longer than the distance AP.

 Path difference AP-BP = λ/2.

 The vibrations at P due to A and B will therefore be π out of phase. The

resultant effect will be 0.

 Destructive interference results and a dark band is obtained.

 In general if the path difference is an odd number of half-wavelengths, a

dark band is obtained. AP-BP = 𝜆/2, 3𝜆/2, 5𝜆/2.

By the principle of conservation of energy, the total light energy from A and B
must be equal to the light energy in all the bright bands of the interference
pattern. The light energy missing from the dark bands is found in the bright
bands. Therefore, the bright bands on a screen appear brighter than when the
screen is uniformly illuminated by A and B without forming the interference
pattern.

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 Interference

Wavefronts to describe the regions of constructive and destructive

interference of waves originating from two point sources.

The above diagram shows interference occurring in a ripple tank. Two sources A
and B, of the same frequency are used. These produce circular waves which
spread out and overlap.

 If oscillations of A and B are in phase, crests from A will arrive at the same
time as crests from B at any point along the line RS. By the principle of
superposition reinforcement or a large wave is obtained along RS.

 Along XY crest from A arrive before corresponding crests from B. In fact,

every point on XY is half a wavelength, 𝜆/2, nearest to A than to B, so crests
from A arrive at the same time as troughs from B. Therefore, cancellation
occurs.

 Generally, reinforcement (constructive interference) occurs at a point C if

the path difference AC-BC = 0 or 𝜆 or 2𝜆. and cancellation (destructive
interference) when AC-BC = 𝜆/2 or 3𝜆/2 or 5𝜆/2.

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 Interference

Young’s Double-slit experiment using visible light

This is an experiment to show:

a) The interference of light and

b) That light is a wave.

1. A source of monochromatic light is placed in front of a narrow slit S. Two

very narrow slits S1 and S2 close to each other, and a distance d apart are
placed in front of S.

2. S1 and S2 act as two close coherent sources both being derived from the
same source. If they as well as S are narrow enough, diffraction causes the
beams to spread into the region beyond the slits.

3. Superposition occurs inside the shaded area where the diffracted beams
overlap.

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4. Alternate bright and dark equally spaced vertical bands (interference

fringes) can be observed on a screen a distance D away from the sources or
at the cross-wires of an eye-piece of a travelling microscope. Both the screen
and the eyepiece should be as far as possible from the sources.

5. If either S1 or S2 is covered the bands disappear.

Theory

 A bright fringe is obtained when the path difference between waves from S1
and S2 reaching the screen at any point Y is 0 i.e. S1Y=S2Y or the path
difference S1Y-S2Y=nλ, n=1, 2, 3 and so on, where λ = the wavelength of the
light.

 A dark fringe is obtained if the path difference S1Y-S2Y=odd number of half

wavelengths.

 If y is the distance between two adjacent bright (or dark) fringes, called the
fringe spacing then

𝜆𝐷
𝑦=
𝑑

Where λ = the wavelength of the light, (m)

D = the distance between the sources and the screen (or eyepiece)

d = the distance between the two coherent sources.

Appearance of Young’s interference fringes

1. If the source slit S is brought nearer to the double slits the separation of
the fringes is unaffected but they appear brighter. The separation of the
fringes is increased by increasing D. Error in measuring y is reduced but
intensity is also reduced.

2. If the distance apart between the coherent sources, d, of the slits is

diminished, keeping S fixed and λ and D constant, the fringe separation is
increased.

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3. If the source slit S is widened the fringes gradually disappear.

4. If one of the slits S1 or S2 is covered up the fringes disappear.

5. If light of different wavelength is used the fringe separation is changed, yαλ.

e.g. red light has a greater wavelength than blue light so the fringe separation
for red is greater.

(red light is about 7×10-7 m and blue light is about 4×10-7 m)

6. If white light is used, the fringes are coloured. Each wavelength produces its
own fringe system. The central band is white since the path difference for
each wavelength is 0 at the centre therefore a bright band is produced for
each fringe system. On each side of the central band there is a dark band.
Next to each dark band there is a coloured band. Blue is the colour next to
the central fringe and red is farther away.

Measurement of λ of a monochromatic source

Measurements taken:

1. Separation of the two slits, d, is measured by a travelling microscope,

equipped with a Vernier scale that can read up to ±0.1 mm.
2. The separation of two bright fringes is also measured with a travelling
microscope. For higher accuracy the separation of a number of bright fringes
is measured and the answer is then divided accordingly.
3. The distance between the slits and screen, D, is measured using a measuring
tape or metre rule calibrated in mm.

𝑦𝑑
𝜆=
𝐷

4. Therefore, once above measurements are made the wavelength can be

calculated using above equation.
5. The screen is moved as far away from the slits as possible. In practice this
would be at least 1 m away.
6. The slits are placed very close to one another. Normally they would be a few
tenths of a millimetre apart.
7. Long wavelengths are used (eg. red light)

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