Super Position of Waves

When two or more than two waves superimpose over each other at a
common particle of the medium then the resultant displacement (y) of the
particle is equal to the vector sum of the displacements (y1 and y2) produced by

individual waves. i.e., y = y 1 + y 2

Resultant
1 Resultant
1

(A) (B)

Fig. 30.4

Important Terms
(1) Phase : The argument of sine or cosine in the expression for
displacement of a wave is defined as the phase. For displacement y = a sin  t ;
term  t = phase or instantaneous phase.
(2) Phase difference () : The difference between the phases of two waves
at a point is called phase difference i.e. if y 1 = a1 sin  t and y 2 = a 2 sin ( t +  ) so
phase difference = 
(3) Path difference () : The difference in path length’s of two waves
meeting at a point is called path difference between the waves at that point.

Also  = 2   

(4) Time difference (T.D.) : Time difference between the waves meeting at
T
a point is T.D. = 
2
Resultant Amplitude and Intensity
Let us consider two waves that have the same frequency but have a certain
fixed (constant) phase difference between them. Their super position shown
below
Resultant

y
2


t

Fig. 30.5

Let the two waves are

y 1 = a1 sin  t and y 2 = a 2 sin ( t +  )

where a1 , a 2 = Individual amplitudes,

 = Phase difference between the waves at an instant when they are meeting
a point.
(1) Resultant amplitude : The resultant wave can be written as y = A sin (
t + )

where A = resultant amplitude = a12 + a22 + 2a1a2 cos φ

(2) Resultant intensity : As we know intensity  (Amplitude)2

 I1 = ka 12 , I 2 = ka 22 and I = kA (k is a proportionality constant). Resultant

2

intensity I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1 I2 cos 

For two identical source I1 = I2 = I0  I = I0 + I0 + 2 I0 I0 cos 

 
= 4 I0 cos 2
2
[as 1 + cos = 2 cos 2
2
]
Coherence
The phase relationship between two light waves can very from time to time
and from point to point in space. The property of definite phase relationship is
called coherence.
(1) Temporal coherence : In a light source a light wave (photon) is
produced when an excited atom goes to the ground state and emits light.
(i) The duration of this transition is about 10–9 to 10–10 sec. Thus, the emitted
wave remains sinusoidal for this much time. This time is known as coherence
time (c).
(ii) Definite phase relationship is maintained for a length L = c c called
coherence length. For neon  = 6328 Å, c  10–10 sec and L = 0.03 m.
For cadmium  = 6438 Å, c = 10–9 sec and L = 0.3 m
For Laser c = 10–5 sec and L = 3 km
(iii) The spectral lines width  is related to coherence length L and
2 2
coherence time c.   or  
c c L

(2) Spatial coherence : Two points in space are said to be spatially

coherence if the waves reaching there maintains a constant phase difference

P'

Monochromatic source of
light

Fig. 30.6

Points P and Q are at the same distance from S, they will always be having
the same phase. Points P and P' will be spatially coherent if the distance
between P and P' is much less than the coherence length i.e. PP '  c c
 (3) Methods of obtaining coherent sources : Two coherent sources are
produced from a single source of light by two methods (i) By division of
wavefront and (ii) By division of amplitude
(i) Division of wave front : The wave front emitted by a narrow source is
divided in two parts by reflection, refraction or diffraction.
The coherent sources so obtained are imaginary. There produced in Fresnel's
biprism, Llyod's mirror Youngs' double slit etc.

S1

S2

Fig. 30.7

(ii) Division of amplitude : In this arrangement light wave is partly

reflected (50%) and partly transmitted (50%) to produced two light rays.
The amplitude of wave emitted by an extend source of light is divided in two
parts by partial reflection and partial refraction.
The coherent sources obtained are real and are obtained in Newton's rings,
Michelson's interferometer, colours in thin films.
M1 Reflection coating
superimpose.
Two waves

S M2
L

Fig. 30.8
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. It is of following
two types
(1) Constructive interference :
When the waves meet a point with same phase, constructive interference is
obtained at that point (i.e. maximum light)
(i) Phase difference between the waves at the point of observation  = 0 o or 2n
(ii) Path difference between the waves at the point of observation  = n (i.e.
even multiple of /2)
(iii) Resultant amplitude at the point of observation will be maximum Amax
= a1 + a2
If a1 = a 2 = a0  A max = 2a0
(iv) Resultant intensity at the point of observation will be maximum
I max = I1 + I 2 + 2 I1 I 2 = ( I1 + I2 )
2

If I1 = I2 = I0  Imax = 4 I0
(2) Destructive interference : When the wave meets a point with opposite
phase, destructive interference is obtained at that point (i.e. minimum light)
(i) Phase difference  = 180 or (2n − 1)  ; n = 1, 2, .....
o

or (2n + 1) ; n = 0,1,2 .....


(ii) Path difference  = (2n − 1)
2
(i.e. odd multiple of /2)

(iii) Resultant amplitude at the point of observation will be minimum

A min = a1 − a 2

If a1 = a2  Amin = 0
 (iv) Resultant intensity at the point of observation will be minimum
I min = I1 + I 2 − 2 I1 I 2 = ( I1 − I2 )
2

If I1 = I 2 = I0  I min = 0
(3) Super position of waves of random phase difference : When two
waves (or more waves) having random phase difference between them super
impose, then no interference pattern is produced. Then the resultant intensity
is just the sum of the two intensities. I = I1 + I2
Young's Double Slit Experiment (YDSE)
Monochromatic light (single wavelength) falls on two narrow slits S1 and S2
which are very close together acts as two coherent sources, when waves coming
from two coherent sources (S 1 , S 2 ) superimposes on each other, an interference
pattern is obtained on the screen. In YDSE alternate bright and dark bands
obtained on the screen. These bands are called Fringes.
Screen
4 Dark
3 Bright
3 Dark
2 Bright
2 Dark
S1 1 Bright
1 Dark
S d Central bright fringe
1 Dark (or Central maxima)
S2 1 Bright
2 Dark
2 Bright
3 Dark
3 Bright
4 Dark
D

d = Distance between slits

D = Distance between slits and screen
 = Wavelength of monochromatic light emitted
from source

Fig. 30.9

(1) Central fringe is always bright, because at central position  = 0 o or  = 0

(2) The fringe pattern obtained due to a slit is more bright than that due to
a point.
 (3) If the slit widths are unequal, the minima will not be complete dark. For
very large width uniform illumination occurs.
(4) If one slit is illuminated with red light and the other slit is illuminated
with blue light, no interference pattern is observed on the screen.
(5) If the two coherent sources consist of object and it’s reflected image, the
central fringe is dark instead of bright one.

Useful Results
(1) Path difference : Path difference between the interfering waves meeting
at a point P on the screen is given by
 = i +  f ; P

where i = initial
path difference S1
x
between the waves
before the slits and  

 f = path difference d
C
M
between the waves
after emerging from
S2
the slits. In this case
i = 0 (Commonly Screen

used condition). D

So,
Fig. 30.10

xd
 = f = = d sin 
D
where x is the position of point P from central maxima.
For maxima at P :  = n  ; where n = 0,  1,  2, …..
(2n − 1)
and For minima at P : =
2
; where n =  1,  2, …...
 (2) Location of fringe : Position of nth bright fringe from central maxima
n D
xn =
d
= nβ ; n = 0, 1, 2 ....
Position of nth dark fringe from central maxima
(2n − 1) λD (2n − 1) β
xn =
2d
=
2
; n = 1, 2,3 ....
(3) Fringe width () : The separation between any two consecutive bright
or dark fringes is called fringe width. In YDSE all fringes are of equal width.
λD
Fringe width β=
d
.

S1



S2

Fig. 30.11

λ β
and angular fringe width θ = d = D

(4) In YDSE, if n1 fringes are visible in a field of view with light of wavelength 1 ,
while n1 with light of wavelength 2 in the same field, then n11 = n 2 2 .
(5) Separation (x ) between fringes
(i) Between nth bright and mth bright fringes (n  m )

x = (n − m )
(ii) Between nth bright and mth dark fringe
 1
(a) If nm then x =  n − m + 2  
 
  1
(b) If nm then x =  m − n − 2  
 
(6) Identification of central bright fringe : To identify central bright
fringe, monochromatic light is replaced by white light. Due to overlapping
central maxima will be white with red edges. On the other side of it we shall get
a few coloured band and then uniform illumination.
If the whole YDSE set up is taken in another medium then  changes so 
changes
  3
e.g. in water w =   w =  = 4  a
a a

w w

Condition for Observing Interference

(1) The initial phase difference between the interfering waves must remain
constant. Otherwise, the interference will not be sustained.
(2) The frequency and wavelengths of two waves should be equal. If not the
phase difference will not remain constant and so the interference will not be
sustained.
(3) The light must be monochromatic. This eliminates overlapping of
patterns as each wavelength corresponds to one interference pattern.
(4) The amplitudes of the waves must be equal. This improves contrast with
Imax = 4 I0 and Imin = 0 .
(5) The sources must be close to each other. Otherwise, due to small fringe
 1
width    d  the eye cannot resolve fringes resulting in uniform illumination.
 