Interference of light:

When two waves of exactly same frequency (coming from two coherent
sources) travels in a medium, in the same direction simultaneously then due to their
superposition, at some points intensity of light is maximum while at some other
points intensity is minimum. This phenomenon is called Interference of light.
(1) Types : It is of following two types:

Constructive interference Destructive interference

(i) When the waves meets a point with (i) When the wave meets a point with
same phase, constructive interference is opposite phase, destructive
obtained at that point (i.e. maximum interference is obtained at that point
light) (i.e. minimum light)

(ii) Phase difference between the waves (ii) 180 o or (2n 1) ; n = 1, 2, ...
at the point of observation 0 o or 2n
or (2n 1) ; n 0,1,2.....

(iii) Path difference between the waves (iii) (2n 1) (i.e. odd multiple of
at the point of observation n (i.e. 2
even multiple of /2) /2)

(iv) Resultant amplitude at the point of (iv) Resultant amplitude at the point of
observation will be maximum observation will be minimum
a1 a 2 A min 0 A min a1 a 2

If a1 a 2 a 0 A max 2a0 If a1 a 2 A min 0

(v) Resultant intensity at the point of (v) Resultant intensity at the point of
observation will be maximum observation will be minimum
I max I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 I min I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2

I max I1 I 2
2
I min I1 I 2
2

If I1 I 2 I0 I max 2I0 If I1 I 2 I 0 I min 0

(2) Resultant intensity due to two identical waves :

For two coherent sources the resultant intensity is given by
I I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 cos

For identical source I1 I 2 I 0 I I0 I0 2 I0 I0 cos 4 I0 cos 2
2

[1 + cos 2 cos 2 ]
2
Note : In interference redistribution of energy takes place in the form of
maxima and minima.
I max I min
Average intensity : Iav I1 I 2 a12 a 22
2
Ratio of maximum and minimum intensities :
2 2
I max I1 I 2 I1 / I 2 1 2 2
a1 a 2 a1 / a 2 1


a /a 1 also
I min I1 I 2 I / I 1
1 2 a1 a 2 1 2
I max
1
I1 a1 I min

I2 a2 I max
1
I min

If two waves having equal intensity (I1 = I2 = I0) meets at two

locations P and Q with path difference 1 and 2 respectively then the
ratio of resultant intensity at point P and Q will be

cos 2 1 cos 2 1
IP
2
IQ
cos 2 2 cos 2 2
2
ILLUSTRATIONS

Ex1.If two light waves having same frequency have intensity ratio 4 : 1 and they
interfere, find the ratio of maximum to minimum intensity in the pattern .
2
I1 4
2
1 1
I max I2 1 9
Sol: By using 1
I min I1 4 1
1
I2 1

Ex2.Two beams of light having intensities I and 4I interfere to produce a fringe

pattern on a screen. The phase difference between the beams is at point A and
2
at point B. Find the difference between the resultant intensities at A and B.
Sol:By using I I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 cos

At point A : Resultant intensity I A I 4 I 2 I 4 I cos 5I
2
At point B : Resultant intensity I B I 4 I 2 I 4 I cos I . Hence the difference
I A IB 4 I

Ex3.If two waves represented by y1 4 sin t and y 2 3 sin t interfere at a
3

point, the amplitude of the resulting wave will be about

Sol: By using A a12 a 22 2a1 a 2 cos

A (4 ) 2 (3) 2 2 4 3 cos 37 6 .
3

Ex4.Two waves being produced by two sources S1 and S 2 . Both sources have zero
phase difference and have wavelength . The destructive interference of both the
waves will occur of point P if (S1 P S 2 P) has the value
Sol: For destructive interference, path difference the waves meeting at P (i.e.
S 1 P S 2 P) must be odd multiple of /2. Hence option (d) is correct.

Ex5.Two interfering wave (having intensities are 9I and 4I) path difference between
them is 11 . The resultant intensity at this point will be
2
Sol: Path difference 11 22 i.e. constructive interference
2
obtained at the same point
So, resultant intensity I R ( I1 I 2 ) 2 ( 9 I 4 I ) 2 25 I .

EXERCISES
I max 144
Q1.In interference if then what will be the ratio of amplitudes of the
I min 81

interfering wave
144 7 1 12
(a) (b) (c) (d)
81 1 7 9

I max
1 144 1 12 1
a1 I min 81 9 7
Sol: (b) By using 12
a2 I max 144 1
1 1 1
I min 81 5

Q2.Two interfering waves having intensities x and y meets a point with time
difference 3T/2. What will be the resultant intensity at that point
xy
(a) ( x y ) (b) ( x y xy ) (c) x y 2 xy (d)
2 xy
 T 3T T
Sol: (c)Time difference T.D. 3 ; This is the condition
2 2 2

of constructive interference.
So resultant intensity I R ( I1 I 2 ) 2 ( x y ) 2 x y 2 xy .

Q3.Two identical sources emitted waves which produces intensity of k unit at a point
on screen where path difference is . What will be intensity at a point on screen at
which path difference is /4
k k
(a) (b) (c) k (d) Zero
4 2
2
Sol: (b)By using phase difference ()

For path difference , phase difference 1 2 and for path difference /4, phase
difference 2 = /2.
I1 cos 2 (1 / 2) k cos 2 (2 / 2) 1
Also by using I 4 I 0 cos 2
2 I2 cos 2 ( 2 / 2) I2 / 2 1 / 2
cos 2
2
k
I2 .
2
Q4.The maximum intensity in case of interference of n identical waves, each of
intensity I0, if the interference is (i) coherent and (ii) incoherent respectively are
(a) n 2 I0 , nI 0 (b) nI 0 , n 2 I0 (c) nI 0 , I 0 (d) n 2 I0 , (n 1)I0

Sol: (a)In case of interference of two wave I I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 cos

(i) In case of coherent interference does not vary with time and so I will be
maximum when cos max 1

i.e. (I max )co I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 ( I1 I 2 ) 2

So for n identical waves each of intensity I0

(I max )co ( I 0 I 0 ......) 2
(n I 0 ) n I 0
2 2

(ii)In case of incoherent interference at a given point, varies randomly with time, so
(cos )av 0 and hence (I R ) Inco I1 I 2

So in case of n identical waves (I R ) Inco I0 I0 ....... nI 0

Q5.The width of one of the two slits in a Young's double slit experiment is double of
the other slit. Assuming that the amplitude of the light coming from a slit is
proportional to the slit width. The ratio of the maximum to the minimum intensity in
interference pattern will be
1 9 2 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
a 1 1 2
Sol: (b) A max 2 A A 3 A and A min 2 A A A . Also
2
A
2
I max 3A 9
max
I min A min A 1

Q6.Select the correct statement.

(a)Phase difference between the waves at the point of observation for constructive
interference should be 0o or n

(b)Path difference for destructive interference (2n 1)
2

(c)Path difference for destructive interference (2n 1)

(d)Phase difference between the waves at the point of observation for destructive
interference should be 0o or n

Sol.(b)Path difference for destructive interference (2n 1)
2

*refer text.

Q7.Which of the following is true for destructive interference?

(a)When the wave meets a point with same phase, destructive interference is
obtained at that point

(b) 180 o or (2n 1) ;

(c) (2n 1)

(d) Resultant amplitude at the point of observation will be maximum

Sol.(b)*refer text