Chapter 9 (Physical Optics)

Numerical Problems
Q.1) In a young double slit experiment, the separation of
the slits is 1 mm and red light of wavelength 620 nm is
falling on it. Determine the distance between the central
bright band and the fifth bright fringe on the screen
which is 3 m away from the slit.
Answer:

Given Data:

Separation between slits = d = 1 mm = 1 × 10​-3​ m

Wavelength of red light = λ = 620 nm = 620 × 10​-9​ m

Distance between screen and slit = L = 3 m

To Find:

Distance between central bright band and fifth bright band = ΔY

= Y​5​ – Y​0​ = ?​Solution:

We know that the position of mth bright fringe is given by,

Where, m = 0, 1, 2, 3, ………………….

Therefore for central bright fringe, we have, m = 0.

So putting values, equation (1) becomes

Similarly for fifth fringe we get,

So from equation (2) and (3), we get

ΔY = Y​5​ – Y​0

Putting values, we get

ΔY = 9300 × 10​-6​m – 0 = 9300 × 10​-3 mm

​

Read more: C
​ lass 11 Physics Notes for Sindh, kpk, Punjab and fbise.

Q.2) Monochromatic light of wavelength 589.2 nm is used

to illuminate the narrow slits 1 mm apart. Find the
positions of the first dark and first bright fringes on the
screen 100 cm away.
Answer :

Given Data:

Wavelength of monochromatic light = λ = 589.2 nm =

589.2 × 10​-9 ​m Distance between the slits = d = 1mm

= 1 × 10​-3​ m

Distance between the screen and fringes = L = 100 cm =

1m

To Find:

(a) Position of first bright fringe = Y​bright​ = ?

(b) Position of first dark fringe = Y​dark =

​ ?

Solution:
 For the position of bright fringe, we have

(a) For first fringe, m = 1, so putting values we get

(b) For position of dark fringe, we have

Putting values, we get

Q.3) Two parallel slits are illuminated by the light of two

wavelengths, one of which is 5.8 x 10​-7 ​m. On the screen,
the fourth dark line of the known wavelength coincides
with the fifth bright line of the light of unknown
wavelength. Find the unknown wavelength.
Answer :

Given Data:

Wavelength of first light = λ​1​ = 5.8 × 10​-7 m

​
To Find:

Unknown wavelength = λ' = ?

Solution:

Consider Y​m represents the position of fourth dark

fringe where, m = 4 and Y'​m' represents the position of fifth bright

fringe and m' = 5. Moreover, as given condition is that the fourth

dark line of known wavelength coincides with the fifth bright line of

unknown wavelength. Therefore,

Y​m = Y'​m' …………………………….

(1)

We know that for dark fringes,

And for bright fingers,

Putting these values in equation (1), we get

Putting values, we get

Q.4) When the movable mirror of a Michelson

interferometer is moved 0.1 mm. How many dark fringes
pass through the reference point, if light of wavelength
580 nm is used?
Answer:

Given Data:

Distance = d = 0.1mm = 0.1 × 10​-3 m

​

Wavelength of light = λ = 580 nm = 580 × 10​-9 ​m

To Find:

Number of dark fringes = m = ?

Solution:

For Michelson interferometer, we know that

Putting values, we get

i.e.

Q.5) When the movable mirror on a Michelson

interferometer is moved in one direction, 400 fringes
appear to pass through the field of view when light of
wavelength of 500 nm is used. What is the distance
through which the mirror has been moved.
Answer :

Given Data:

​ Number of fringes = m = 400

Wavelength of light = λ = 500 nm = 500 × 10​-9​ m

To Find:

Distance = d = ?

Solution:

For Michelson interferometer, we know that

Putting values, we get

Or,
Q.6) A soap film has a refractive index of 1.40. How thick
must the film be, if it appears black, when mercury light
of wavelength 546.1 nm falls on it normally?
Answer :

Given Data:

Refractive index of soap film = n = 1.40

Wavelength of mercury light = λ = 546.1 nm = 546.1 × 10​-9​m

To Find:

Thickness of film = x = ?

Solution:

If the soap film has some thickness then there will be a path

difference of 2x. i.e.

P.D =2x …………………….. (1)

However, for simple soap film, path difference is given by

Comparing equation (1) and (2), we get

Putting values by taking, m = 1, we get

Or,

Q.7) Find the polarizing angle for a glass of refractive

index of 1.55.
Answer :

Given Data:

Refractive index of air = n​1​ = 1

Refractive index for glass = n​2​ = 1.55

To Find:

Polarizing angle = i​P​ = ?

Solution:

Brewster’s law gives us that,

Putting values, we get

i.e.
Q.8) A diffraction grating has 5000 lines per centimeter.
At what angle does the second-order spectrum of the
sodium yellow light of wavelength 589 nm occur?
Solution:

Given Data:

Number of lines = N = 5000 cm​-1​ = 500000 m​-1

Wavelength of light = λ = 589 nm = 589 × 10​-9​m

Order of spectrum = m = 2

To Find:

Angle = ө = ?

Solution:

We know that,

d sinө = mλ

Where, d = 1/N

⇒ Sinө = mNλ

⇒ ө = sin​-1​(mNλ)

Putting values, we get

Ө = Sin​-1​ (2 × 500000m​-1​ × 589 × 10​-9​m) = Sin​-1

(0.589)

i.e.
Q.9) Light is incident normally on a grating which has 250
lines / mm. Find the wavelength of spectral line for which
the deviation in second order is 12°?
Answer :

Given Data:

Number of lines = N = 250 (mm)​-1​ = 250,000 m​-1

Order = m = 2

Deviation = ө = 12​o

To Find:

Wavelength of the line = λ = ?

Solution:

We know that,

d sinө = mλ

Where, d = 1/N

Putting values, we get

i.e.
Q.10) In a certain X-rays diffraction experiment the first
order image is observed at an angle of 5° for a crystal
plane spacing of 2.8 x 10​-10 ​m. What is the wavelength of
X-rays used?
Answer :

Given Data:

Order of image = m = 1

Angle = ө = 5​o

Spacing of plane = d = 2.8 × 10​-10​m

To Find:

Wavelength = λ = ?

Solution:

According to Bragg’s law, we know that

2d Sinө = mλ

Putting values, we get

Q.11) An X-ray beam of wavelength 0.48 x 10​-10 ​m is used

to get Bragg reflection from a crystal at an angle of 20° for
the first order maximum. What are the possible layer
plane spacing which give rise to this maximum?
Answer :

Given Data:

Wavelength of beam = λ = 0.48 × 10​-10​m

Bragg’s angle = ө = 20o

Order = m = 1

To Find:

Layer plane spacing = d = ?

Solution:

Bragg’s law gives us,

2d Sinө = mλ

Putting values, we get