OBJECTIVETYPE Carrying 1mark

1. Light appears to travel in straight lines because : (a) 2/e (b) 2/2e (c) /4e (d) /2.
(a) it is not absorbed by the atmosphere 4. Asingle-slit diffraction pattern is obtained using a beam
(b) /t is reflected by the upper part of the atmosphere of red light. What happens if red light is replaced by
(C) its wavelength is very small blue light?
(d) its speed is very large. (a) There is no change in the diffraction pattern
2. Though both light and sound have wave character, yet (b) Diffraction fringes become narrower and crowded
diffraction is much harder to observe in light because: together
(a)light can travel in vacuum (c) Diffraction fringes become broader and farther
(b) light waves are transverse apart
(c) the speed of light is very large (d) Diffraction fringes disappear.
(d) the wavelength of light is very small.
3. In the diffraction of light of wavelength à at a single 5. Yellow lightis used in a single-slit diffraction experiment
slit of small width e, the angle 0 between the central with slit width of 0.6 mm. If yellow light is replaced by
maximum and first minimum on either side is : X-rays, then the observed pattern will reveal:
 Diffraction of Light 905
a) that the central maximum is narrower
(b) more number of fringes Hint: The slit width (0.6 mm) is much larger than
the wavelength of x-rays (1 ). hence; diffraction
(c) less number of fringes would not be observable.
(d no diffraction pattern.

SWERS
1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (d).

VERY SHORT ANSWERTYPE Carrying 1mark

What is meant by "diffraction of light"? 6. What is the condition for first minima in diffraction
Answer. It is defined as bending of light waves around through a single-slit of width e?
the corners of an obstacle or through an aperture into Answer. e sin =+h
the region of geometrical shadow of the obstacle/ 7. Write the formula for the width of the central maximum
aperture. in Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of a single slit as
observed on a screen.
Answer. W= 2f/e, where e is the width of the slit and
fthe focal length of the focussing lens placed close to
the slit.
8. In a single-slit diffraction pattern, how does the angular
width of central maximum change, when (i) the slit
width is increased, (i) light of smaller wavelength is
used? (/SC 2005)
2. In Fraunhofer's single-slit diffraction experiment, how Answer. (i) It will decrease. (i) It will decrease.
does semi-angular width 0 of the central bright fringe
depend on slit width 'e'? 9. State whether diffraction of light takes place at the two
Answer. The semi-angular width 0of the central bright slits in the Young's interference experiment?
finge in Fraunhofer's single-slit diffraction experiment
Answer. Yes, the light waves arriving at each slit are
is given by diffracted. The diffracted waves emerging from the slits
0=We
when the slit width 'e' is decreased keeping , constant then interfere.
the semi-angular width willincrease. 10. What will be the effect on the width of the central bright
. What should be the order of the size of obstacle/aperture fringe in the diffraction pattern of a single-slit if :
tor observing diffraction of light? i) monochromatic light of smaller wavelength is used,
Answer. It should be of the order of the wavelength of
(ii) slit is made narrower? (/SC 2013)
ight used.
Or observing Fraunhofer diffraction from a single-slit, Answer. The width of central bright fringe /e.
What type of wavefront should be incident on the slit? (i) Thus, if 2 is made smaller, the width of central bright
(/SC 2006)
fringe will decrease.
Answer. Plane wavefront.
FTaunhofer diffraction, what kindof source of light is (ii) And if slit width e is made smaller the width of
Used and where is it situated? (ISC 2017) central bright fringe will increase.
HSWer. Monochromatic, virtually at infinity

SHORT
\.
ANSWERTYPE Carrying 2 marks
State any one difference between interference of light longitudinal character. The energy of the medium is
and diffraction of (/SC 2022, 21, 15) redistributed in both the phenomenons.
light.
Answerwaves
light . Interference is the result of superposition of
from two different coherent sources (real or
Difference : In interference the bright and dark bands
are of uniform intensity, but same is not true for
Viof tsecondary
ual) whereaswavelets diffraction
from different
to interference
occurs dueparts of the same diffraction.

2. wavefront.
3. Ray optics assumes that light travels in straight lines.
State one similarity and one difference between Light, however, bends round the edges of obstacles and

iofnAnteswrieer.rencSiebutmiandlaritydiffraction of light. (/SC 2010)

: Both demonstrate the wave nature
apertures (diffraction). Yet, ray optics correctly locates
images in optical instruments. Justify the validity of ray
light, they do not tell about its transverse or optics.
906 NOOTAN ISC Physics-XII obstacles/apertures around us (walls,doors,
windows)
O
Answer. When a light beam passes through
a narrow diffraction of light in daily life
we do not observe
due to diffraction at of ordinary sound is of
slit of width e (say), it broadens
with increasing
the other hand, the wavelength
obstacles/apertures of this size
the slit and the broadening increases the order of a metre and
certain distance, Hence, diffraction in sound
distance from the slit. However, up to a the width of frequently occur around us.
smaller than
the broadening remains is very Common.
wavelength of light is very small strongly around buildings, but
the slit. Since, the 8. Radio waves diffract electromagnetic waves, do
(z5x 10 the light
m), beam can travel several metres light waves, which are also
without significant broadening even if the slit is quite not. Why?
ordinarily light travels in diffraction of waves, their
narrow (r few mm). Thus, Answer. For pronounced order as the size of
straight lines and ray optics is valid. wavelength should be of the same wavelengths of the
diffraction? waves have
4. What is Fraunhofer
observed when a wide' slit is
the obstacles. The radio and other obstacles in
5. Why is diffraction not order of the size of the buildingsdiffracted. On the other
illuminated by monochromatic light? their way and so they are
easily
large (much larger than waves is too small to be
Answer. When the slit width e is hand, the wavelength of light
the central maximum
the wavelength of light used), narrow and its
diffracted around buildings.
(angular width 22/e becomes very how is the angular width
Correspondingly, the 9. In Fraunhofer diffraction, affected when slit width is
intensity becomes very large). minima of the central bright fringe
maxima and
intensity variation in subsidiary ((SC 2018)
they cannot be distinguished. increased?
becomes so small that where, e is the slit
In fact, it is the presence of
subsidiary maxima which Hint:Decreases as = sin (/e),
diffraction is not
demonstrates diffraction. Hence, width.
is being
observed with a wide slit. 10. The diffraction of light due to a single-slit
seen when we look through a effect on the
6. Coloured spectrum isthrough observed in the laboratory. What will be the
Why? wavelength be
muslin cloth, but not
cóarse cloth.
which diffraction pattern, if : (1) light of smaller
of very fine threads another parallel
Answer. Muslin cloth is made
passing through used, (i1) slit is made narrower and (ii) (/SC 2013)
White light
form fine slits in the cloth. diffraction pattern has slit be made close to the first slit?
these slits gets diffracted. Each coloured subsidiary narrower. (ii) The
Answer. ) The pattern will become
with interference will
a white central maximum overlapping of all patterns pattern will become wider. (iii) Then
maxima on both sides. The same width.
spectrum. In coarse cloth, the slits take place and the fringes will be of the
results inacoloured effect suppressed in Young's double
wider and hence pronounced diffraction does not 11. How is diffraction
are slit experiment?
made
OCcur.
diffraction common in sound but not
common Answer. In Young's experiment, the two slits are
7. Why is maximum of the
waves be diffracted more quite narrow so that the central
in light? (or, why can sound diffraction pattern of each slit becomes broad enough to
easily than light waves?) fringes are
Answer. The diffraction of waves
becomes noticeable cover the entire field of view. The interference
uniform
only when the size of the obstacle, or
aperture, is of the then observed against a background of almost
the wavelength of diffraction maxima of the
same order as the wavelength. Since, intensity of the broad central
ofthe
light ( 10°m) is very small compared to the size two slits.
Carrying 3 marks
LONG ANSWER TYPE (AJ instructions to the student. State whether the responses
diffraction of
1. What is diffraction of light? Describe the of the student, in each case, are correct or
incorrect.
light at a single-slit. Give a reason for your answer.
minimumof
2. Obtain the relation e sin = 2 for the first (i) EXAMINER:Increase the intensity of the diffraction
using
the diffraction pattern of a single-slit of widthe bands.
(/SC 2001)
light of wavelength A. STUDENT: Increases the width of the slit.
3 Drawa labelled graph showing the variation in intensity of (ii) EXAMINER: Place a tiny circular obstacle in the
light with distance in a single-slit Fraunhofer
diffraction path of light from a distant source. Describe the
experiment. (2009) result of your observation.
in intensity STUDENT:A bright spot is seen at the centre of
4. Draw a labelled graph to show variation
of diffracted light with angular position in a single-slit the shadow of the obstacle.
(2020, 15, 12, 07) (iii) EXAMINER:Increase the linear width of the central
diffraction experiment.
5. A student is performing an experiment on single maximum of the single slit diffraction pattern.
slit diffraction. The examiner gives the following
STUDENT:Increases the width of the slit.
 T

Diffraction of Light 907

Answers : (i)The student made the correct move. constructive interference
centre of the shadow. This
Intensity is directly proportional to the square of produces a bright spot.
-he slit width. Hence it 22D where a is
increases with increase in (iii) Width of the central maximum =
slit width.
c) Student's observation is correct, the slit width.
because light width of the central
waves are diffracted from the edge of the circular On decreasing the slit width,
obstacle, which interferes constructively at the maximum will increase.
incorrect.
So, the response of the student is
LONG ANSWERTYPE [B] Carrying 5 marks
Define diffraction of light and name the wavefront diffraction. Obtain the
2. Compare interference and central
ced in Fraunhofer diffraction. Obtain the relation expression for half and full angular width of
#sin 9 = for first minima. maxima in diffraction pattern.

IONGANSWERTYPE (C] PASSAGE BASED Carrying 5 marks

L2
Read the passage(s) and answer the following L1
questions
Observations show that light suffers some deviation
from its straight path when it passes close to the edge
of opaque obstacles or narrow slits. Some light spreads
into the region of geometrical shadow. This deviation SCREEN

is very small, but becomes prominent when the

dimensions of the obstacle or aperture is comparable to (i) State the essential condition for diffraction of light
the wavelength of light. to occur.
The bending of light around corners of obstacles and (i) Which type of wavefront is most suitable for
spreading into geometrical shadow of an object is observing a single slit diffraction pattern?
called diffraction. (i) At the first minimum adjacent to the central
There are two types of diffractions :
maximum of a single slit diffraction pattern, what
is the phase difference between the Huygens'
() Frensel's Diffraction: The source and screen are wavelet from the edge of the slit and the wavelet
at finite distances from the aperture, so that the from the mid-point of the slit? Monochromatic
wavefront is spherical or cylindrical. light of wavelength à is used in the experiment.
(ü) Fraunhofer Diffraction:The source andsereen are (iv) A diffraction pattern due to a single slit has been
effectively at infinite distance from the diffracting obtained using a beam of red light. If red light is
element. It can be observed by employing two replaced by violet light, what will be the effect on
convergent lenses : One to render the incoming the diffraction fringes?
light parallel and the other to focus the-parallel
(v) How is the diffraction effect supressed in Youngs
aiffracted rays on the screen. Therefore the
double slit experiment?
Ans. (i) The size of the diffracting element must be of
incident wavefront is plane. the order of the wavelength of light.
et a collimated beanm of monochromatic light of (ii) Plane wavefront.
Waelength ., produced by a point source S placed at (iii) Phase difference of n radian.
e focus of a spherical lens L1, be incident normally (iv) Diffraction bands become narrower and crowd
anarrow slit AB of width a as shown in the figure together.
Ven ahead. The diffracted light be focused by another (v) In Youngs' experiment, the two slits are made
Ne lens L, on the screen XY placed in the focal plane quite narrow so that the central maximum of the
S Ly and perpendicular to the plane of paper. On diffraction pattern of each slit becomes broad
SCreen a diffraction pattern having alternate dark enough to cover the entire field of view. The
MDTight fringes of decreasing intensity is obtained on interference fringes are then observed against a
n the sides of the central point C. background of almost uniform intensity of the
broad central diffraction-maxima of the two slits.