Interference:

Syllabus
1. Explain the phenomenon of Interferences
2. Understand the meaning of coherent sources
3. Describe Young’s double slit experiment and obtain the expression for nth order
maxima

Interference of Light:
The phenomenon of nonuniform distribution of light energy due to the
superposition of light waves from coherent sources is known as interference
of light.

Types of Interference:
1)Constructive Interference:
The interference, which is due to superposing of two waves in such a way that
crest of one wave falls on crest of another wave or trough of one wave falls
on trough of other wave is called constructive interference.

If two waves having a same frequency or wavelength and in same phase superimpose
then the amplitude of resultant wave is equal to the sum of amplitude of two waves.
i.e. a=a1+a2

In case of constructive interference, amplitude of

resultant wave is maximum, intensity of resultant
wave is maximum and bright fringes are
produced.

2.Destructive Interference:
The interference, which is due to superposing of two waves in such a way that
crest meets trough and trough meets crest, is called destructive interference.

In case of destructive interference, amplitude of

resultant wave is minimum, intensity of resultant
wave is minimum and dark fringes
are produced.
Coherent Sources:
Two sources of light, which emit light waves of the same wavelength or frequency and
are always in phase or have a constant phase difference are called coherent sources.

To observe the interference phenomenon of light, sources must be coherent. Two

independent sources are not coherent because they may emit light of same wavelength
and amplitude, but they are not in same phase or they may not have a constant phase
difference.
Methods of producing coherent sources:

• By division of wavefront
• By division of amplitude
SAQ
What are coherent sources of light? Can two different bulbs, similar in all respects,
act as coherent sources? [NEB 2074,2069,2057]

Condition for constructive and destructive interference:

Constructive interference will be obtained when the path difference between two
waves is an integral multiple of wavelength 𝜆.

i.e. path difference = n 𝜆 where n = 0,1,2,3……….

Also,
Destructive interference will be obtained when the path difference between two
𝜆
waves is an odd integral multiple of
2

i.e. path difference = (2n-1) where n = 1,2,3……….

Task:
1)What are the conditions for constructive and destructive interference of light
waves? [ HSEB 2070,71]
Young’s double slit experiment:
Let S be the monochromatic source of light and
S1 and S2 are two narrow slits placed equidistant
from source S and act as a coherent source. Let d
is the distance between two slits and D be the
distance between screen & slits. y be the distance
at point P from center C.
The two waves from S1 and S2 superimpose at P
and interference pattern on the screen is obtained.
Now,
The path difference between two waves at P is
given by

Path difference = S2 P - S1 P ...……. (1)

Now,

(S2 P)2 – (S1 P)2. = 𝐷 + (𝑦 + ) − 𝐷 + (𝑦 − )

or (S2 P - S1 P) (S2 P + S1 P) = (𝑦 + ) − (𝑦 − )
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
or (S2 P - S1 P) (S2 P + S1 P) = ( 𝑦 + 2 + 𝑦 − 2) ( 𝑦 + 2 − 𝑦 + 2)
or (S2 P - S1 P) (S2 P + S1 P) = 2yd

or (S2 P - S1 P) =
( )

Since, point P lies very close to C.

So, 𝑆 P ≈ 𝑆 P≈D
(S2 P - S1 P) = = = ……………(2)
( )

From equation (1) and (2)

Path difference =
 Position of Bright Fringes (constructive interference)
The point P will be bright if the path difference between two waves is
path difference = n 𝜆 where n = 0,1,2,3…..

=n𝜆

∴ 𝑦 =
This gives the position of nth bright fringe from center C.
Now,
For n=0 , 𝑦 = 0 central bright fringe
For n=1 , 𝑦 = 1st bright fringe

For n=2 , 𝑦 = 2nd bright fringe

…………………………………………..
For n = n , 𝑦 = nth bright fringe
The separation of center of two consecutive bright fringes is called fringe width of
bright fringe and is given by
𝛽 =𝑦 −𝑦 =

∴ Fringe width, 𝛽 =

Position of Dark Fringes (destructive interference)

The point P will be dark if the path difference between two waves is
path difference = (2n-1) where n = 1,2,3……….

= (2n-1)
( )
∴ 𝑦 =
This gives the position of nth dark fringe from center C.
Now,
For n=1, 𝑦 = 1st dark fringe

For n=2, 𝑦 = 2nd dark fringe

………………………………………………………
( )
For n= n, 𝑦 = nth dark fringe

The separation of center of two consecutive dark fringes is called fringe width of
dark fringe and is given by
𝛽 =𝑦 −𝑦 =
 ∴ Fringe width, 𝛽 =
Hence, Fringe width of consecutive bright and dark fringes are equal and is given
by

∴ Fringe width, 𝛽 =

Conditions for sustained interference of light:

In order to obtain the continuous or sustained interference of light, the following
conditions should be satisfied.
1. Two sources of light must be coherent.
2. Two slits must be very close to each other.
3. Two slits must be very narrow. (width of slit should be in the order of wavelength
of light wave)
4. The waves from sources should be in same phase or constant phase difference.
5. The amplitude of waves must be equal or nearly equal.
6. The two sources of light must travel in same direction.

Assignment:
Short answer question:
1) Can two different bulbs, similar in all respects, acts as coherent sources?
2) Can two independent sources of light produce interferences?
3) Two waves are represented in usual notation as y1= a1 sin wt and y2= a2 coswt. Their
intensities are I1 and I2. What would be the ratio of their amplitudes when I1=2I2 ?
4)What are the condition for sustained interference of light?
5) In young’s double-slit experiment, how is the fringe width altered if the separation
between the slits is doubled and the distance between the slits and the screen is halved?
6) Give relation between phase difference and path difference.
7) What will be the effect on the interference fringes obtained in young’s double slit
experiment, if the monochromatic source of light is replaced by white light source?

Long Answer Question:

NEB 2081
a) Two coherent waves, each of intensity I, are producing an interference pattern. What
will be the resultant intensity at a point of
i) Constructive interference
ii) Destructive interference

NEB 2081D
a) Does interference of light follow the principle of conservation of energy? Justify. [1]
b) Obtain the expression for the position of nth order maxima from central bright fringe
in Young's double slit experiment. [2]

NEB 2081GIE
a) In a Young's double slit experiment, in which conditions will you get constructive
and destructive interference? Explain on the basis of path difference. [2]

b) In Young's slit experiment, the separation of the first to fifth bright fringes is 2.5 mm
when the wavelength used is 620 nm. The distance from the slits to the screen is
80 cm. Calculate the separation of two slits. [3] Ans: 8 ×10-4 m
NEB 2080R
a) In Young’s double slit experiment, bright and dark bands are formed on a screen due
to interference of light.
i) Define interference of light. [1] [NEB 2079]
ii) Calculate the fringe width (𝛽) [3]
iii) When the whole apparatus is immersed in a liquid, what will be the effect on the
fringe width? [2]

NEB 2080GIE
a) Two narrow slits are illuminated by a single monochromatic source of light. Name the
pattern obtained on the screen and explain how these patterns are obtained? (1)
b) One of these slits is now completely covered. Name the pattern obtained on the screen.
c) Write the difference between the patterns obtained in the above two cases on the basis
of Huygen’s principle. (1)

1 a) What do you mean by coherent sources of light? (1)

b) In Young’s double slit experiment, what changes will you observe in fringe width
for the following operations: [NEB 2080]
i) When experiment is shifted from air to inside water.
ii) when slits width is increased?
c) Prove that the dark and bright fringes are equally spaced in Young’s double-slit
experiment. (3)
d) In Young’s double slit experiment, the separation between the third and fifth bright
fringes is 2.5mm when the wavelength of light used is 6.2× 10-4 mm. The distance
from the slits to the screen is 80cm. Calculate the separation of the two slits. [2]
Ans: 7.9 ×10-4 m
NEB 2079
The diagram represents the experimental arrangement used to
produce interference fringes in Young’s double slits
experiment.
a) What are coherent sources of light? [1]
b) In the above experiment, if the slits S1 and S2 are
illuminated by a monochromatic source of light of
wavelength λ, show that the width of bright fringe is equal
to width of dark fringe is given by 𝛽 = [3]
c) If the distance between slits and the screen is doubled and
slits separation is halved, what will be the effect on fringe
width? [2]

d) What happened to fringe width if the whole apparatus is immersed in water? [1]

2 a) A student wants to study interference patterns using two identical candles

light. Explain why he can’t produce an interference pattern using
identical candle. [2]
b) How can he produce a sustainable interference pattern? Give two
conditions for it. (2)
c) Discuss Young’s double slit experiment for the determination of fringe
width. (3)
 d) Can you use white light in Young’s experiment? [1]

3 a) In Young’s double slit experiment, show that bright and dark fringes are
equally spaced. (3)

2079 GIE
b) In Young’s double slit experiment, the slits are 0.03cm apart and the screen
is placed 1.5m away. The distance between the central bright fringes and
the fourth bright fringes is 1cm. Calculate the wavelength of light used.
[3] Ans: 5 × 10-7m

4) The diagram shows young’s double slit experiment performed with tungsten
filament as the light

a. For an interference pattern to be observed, the light has to be emitted by two

coherent sources. What is meant by coherent sources? [1]
b. What do you mean by fringe width? Calculate that, the value of fringe width is
𝛽 = 𝜆D/d, and show that this value is the same for both bright and dark fringes.
[3]
c. What happens to the interference fringes if coherent source S is replaced by the
headlight of vehicles? [2]
d. A scientist carries out the Young double-slit experiment using a laser that emits
violet light of wavelength 405 nm. The separation of the slits is 5.00 × 10-5 m.
Using a meter ruler, the scientist measures the separation of two adjacent bright
fringes in the central region of the pattern to be 4 mm. Calculate the distance
between the double slits and the screen. [2]

5a) Why are coherent sources necessary to produce a sustained interference pattern? [1]

b) What is the effect on the interference pattern in Young’s double-slit experiment when
i) screen is moved closer to the plane of slits? and ii) separation between two slits
is increased? Explain your answer in each case [2]

c) The fringe width in Young’s double-slit interference pattern is 2.4 × 10−4 𝑚 when
the red light of wavelength 6400Ao is used. By how much will it change if blue
light of the wavelength of 4000Ao is used. [2]
Extra Numerical Question:
1) Two straight and narrow slits 3 × 10 m apart are illuminated by a monochromatic
source of wavelength 5900Ao. Fringes are obtained at a distance of 0.3m from the
source. Find the width of fringes. Also calculate the change in fringe width, when
the apparatus is immersed in a liquid of refractive index 1.5.

2) The separation between the two consecutive dark fringes in a young’s double slit
experiment is 1 mm. The screen is placed at a distance of 2m from the slits of 1.00
mm separation. What is the wavelength of light used in the experiment?

3) Two slits are 0.3mm apart and placed 50 cm from a screen. What is the distance
between the 2nd and 3rd dark lines of the interference pattern when the slits are
illuminated with a light of 600nm wavelength? Ans: 10-3 m

4) In Young’s Double Slit Experiment, the distance between the center of the
interference pattern and 10th bright fringe on either side is 3.44cm. The distance
between the slits and the screen is 2.0m. If the wavelength of light used is 5.89 ×10-
7m, determine the slits separation and angle made by central bright fringe at slit.

Ans: 3.42 ×10-4m, 1.72× 10-3 radian

5) Two light sources with amplitudes 5 units and 3 units respectively interfere with
each other. Calculate the ratio of maximum and minimum intensities.
Ans: 16:1
Multiple Choice Question:
[2079GIE] In YDSU, the distance between the slits is halved and distance between the
slits and screen is doubled. Then, fringe width becomes
a) Half b) Double c) Four times d) Six times

1. The interference phenomenon can take place

a) in standing waves only b) in transverse waves only
c) in longitudinal waves only d) in all waves
2.In Young’s double-slit experiment, the central point on the screen is
a) bright b) dark
c) first bright and then dark d) first dark and then bright

3.In Young’s double slit experiment, the fringe width will be minimum for
a) violet b) red c) green d) yellow

4.In Young’s double slit experiment, the fringe width will be maximum for
a) violet b) red c) green d) yellow

5.The distance between two coherent sources is 0.1mm. The fringe width on
a screen 1.2m away from the source is 6.0mm. The wavelength of light used
is
a) 4000Ao b) 5000Ao c) 6000Ao d) 7200Ao

6.In Young’s double-slit experiment, if the monochromatic source of yellow

light is replaced by red light. The fringe width
 a) increases b) decreases
c) remains unchanged d) the fringe disappears

7.Two coherent monochromatic light beams of intensities in the ratio 1:4 are superposed,
the ratio of maximum to minimum possible intensities in the resulting beam is
a) 5:1 b) 5:3 c) 9:1 d) 9:3

Hint: Imax = I1+I2+2 𝐼 𝐼 and Imin = I1 + I2 -2 𝐼 𝐼

Ans of MCQ:1c,2a,3a,4b,5 do yourself,6a,7c