PREFACE

In this chapter, we discuss interference of light waves. In contrast to the behavior of

lenses and mirrors, which are described by the methods of geometrical optics where we
represented light as rays, the phenomena of physical optics depend on the wave nature
of light. In fact, it is from these experiments that convincing proof of the wave nature of
light was first obtained.
This booklet consists of summarized text coupled with sufficient number of solved
examples of varying difficulties, which enables the students to develop problem solving
ability along with emphasis on physical concept.
The problems are categorized into five section, namely Exercise – I (objectives where
only one of the option is correct), Exercise – II (objectives where more than one option
may be correct), Exercise – III (matrix matches and paragraph type questions), Exercise
– IV (subjective questions) and Exercise-V (old JEE questions) to help the student assess
his understanding of the concept and further improvise on his problem solving skills.
Solutions to all the questions in the booklet are available and will be provided to the
students (at the discretion of the professor). Every possible attempt has been made to
make the booklet flawless. Any suggestions for the improvement of the booklet would
be gratefully accepted and acknowledged.

(Dept. of Physics)

IIT –ian’s PACE

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IIT–JEE SYLLABUS

Wave nature of light: Huygens principle, interference limited to Young’s double slit experiment.

CONTENTS

SR. NO. TITLE PAGE NO.



1. THEORY 83 – 96

2. EXERCISE # I 97 – 100

3. EXERCISE # II 101 – 102

4. EXERCISE # III 102 – 104

5. EXERCISE # IV 105 – 109

6. EXERCISE # V 110 – 116

7. ANSWER KEY 117 – 118

WAVE OPTICS : Tentative Lecture Flow

(Board Syllabus & Booklet Discussion Included)
Lecture no.1 Wave nature of light Huygens principle
Lecture no.2 Young’s double slit experiment
Lecture no.3 Problems on Young’s double slit experiment
Lecture no.4 Booklet Discussion



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 WAVE OPTICS
PROPERTY OF LIGHT
1. It exists in the form of energy.
2. It travels in straight line with speed 3  108 m / s in the vacuum and
3. Its speed is different in different medium.
4. It exhibits the phenomenon of reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, photoelectric effect etc.
5. The phenomenon of interference and diffraction indicate the wave nature of light.

HUYGEN’S WAVE THEORY

Huygens, the Dutch physicist and astronomer of the seventeenth century, gave a beautiful geometrical description
of wave propagation. Huygens assumed that a body emits light in the form of waves. According to him: Each point
source of light is a center of disturbance from which waves spread in all directions. The locus of all the particles of
the medium vibrating in the same phase at a given instant is called the wavefront.
1. Wavefront
Consider a wave spreading out on the surface of water after a stone is thrown in. Every point on the surface
oscillates. At any time, a photograph of the surface would show circular rings on which the disturbance is
maximum. Clearly, all points on such a circle are oscillating in phase because they are at the same distance from
the source. Such a locus of points which oscillate in phase is an example of a wavefront.

Important point about the wavefront

i. A wavefront is defined as a surface of constant phase.
ii. The speed with which the wavefront moves outwards from the source is called the phase speed. The energy
of the wave travels in a direction perpendicular to the wavefront.
iii. Rays are perpendicular to wavefronts.

Spherical Wave front

Figure shows light waves from a point source forming a spherical wavefront in three
dimensional space. The energy travels outwards along straight lines emerging from
the source. i.e. radii of the spherical wavefront. These lines are the rays. This
example illustrates two important general principles which we will use later:
(i) The time taken by light to travel from one wavefront to another is the same
along any ray.
P
(ii) Intensity at a distance of ‘r’ from a source of power ‘P’ is I 
4 r 2
1 1
Or, I  and a  . Where ‘a’ is the amplitude.
r2 r
Plane wavefront
If we look at a small portion of a spherical wave, far away from the source,
then the wavefronts are like parallel planes. The rays are parallel lines
perpendicular to the wavefronts. This is called a plane wave. Intensity as
well as amplitude does not depend on distance.
Cylindrical wavefront
A linear source such as a slit illuminated by another source behind it will give
rise to cylindrical wavefronts. Again, at larger distance from the source, these
wave fronts may be regarded as planar.
Intensity at a distance ‘r’ by a source of power ‘P’ is given as:

P 1 1
I Or, I & a
2 r r r

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 2. Huygen’s Construction
Huygens suggested that we can think of every oscillating point on a wavefront as a
new source of waves. According to Huygens' principle, what we observe is the result
of adding up the waves from all these different sources. These are called secondary
waves or wavelets. Huygens' principle is illustrated in the simple case of a plane wave
in the figure shown.
i. At time t = 0, we have a wavefront F1, F1 separates those parts of the medium
which are undisturbed from those where the wave has already reached.

ii. Each point on F1 acts like a new source and sends out a spherical wave. After a
time ‘t’ each of these will have radius vt. These spheres are the secondary
wavelets.

iii. After a time t, the disturbance would now have reached all points within the region covered by all
these secondary waves. The boundary of this region is the new wavefront F2. Notice that F2 is a
surface tangent to all the spheres. It is called the forward envelope of these secondary wavelets.

iv. The secondary wavelet from the point A1 on F1 touches F2 at A2. Draw the line connecting any
point A1 on F1 to the corresponding point A2 on F2. According to Huygens, A1 A2 is a ray. It is
perpendicular to the wavefronts F1 and F2 and has length vt. This implies that rays are
perpendicular to wavefronts. Further, the time taken for light to travel between two wavefronts is
the same along any ray. In our example, the speed ‘v’ of the wave has been taken to be the same
at all points in the medium. In this case, we can say that the distance between two wavefronts is the
same measured along any ray.

v. This geometrical construction can be repeated starting with F2 to get the next wavefront F3
a time t later, and so on. This is known as Huygens' construction. Huygens' construction can be
understood physically for waves in a material medium, like the surface of water. Each oscillating
particle can set its neighbors into oscillation, and therefore acts as a secondary source. But what if
there is no medium, as for light travelling in vacuum? The mathematical theory, which cannot be
given here, shows that the same geometrical construction works in this case as well.

3. Refraction
We can use a modified form of Huygens' construction to understand reflection and refraction of light.
figure shows an incident wavefront which makes an angle ‘i’ with the surface separating two media, for
example, air and water. The phase speeds in the two media are v1 and v2. We can see that when the
point A on the incident wavefront strikes the surface, the point B still has to travel a distance BC = AC
sin , and this takes a time t = BC/v1 = AC (sin i) / v1. After a time t, a secondary wavefront of radius
v2t with A as centre would have travelled into medium 2. The secondary
wavefront with C as centre would have just started, i.e.. would have zero
radius. We also show a secondary wavelet originating from a point D in
between A and C. Its radius is less than v2t. The wavefront in medium 2 is
thus a line passing through C and tangent to the circle centered on A. We can
see that the angle r' made by this refracted wavefront with the surface is given
by AE = v2t = AC sin r'. Hence, t = AC (sin r'} / v2. Equating the two expressions for ‘t’ gives us the
law of refraction in the form sin i/sin r' = v1/v2.

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4. Reflection
A similar picture is drawn in figure for the reflected wave which
travels back into medium 1. In this case, we denote the angle
made by the reflected wavefront with the surface by r, and we
find that i = r. Notice that for both reflection and refraction, we
use secondary wavelets starting at different times.

5. Laws of reflection and refraction

The preceding argument gives a good physical picture of how the refracted and reflected waves are
built up from secondary wavelets. We can also understand the laws of reflection and refraction using
the concept that the time taken by light to travel along different rays from one wavefront to another
must be the same. (Fig. 10.2) Shows the incident and reflected wavefronts when a parallel beam of
light falls on a plane surface. One ray POQ is shown normal to both the reflected and incident
wavefronts. The angle of incidence i and the angle of reflection r are defined as the angles made by the
incident and reflected rays with the normal. As shown in Fig. (c), these are also the angles between the
wavefront and the surface.

We now calculate the total time to go from one wavefront to another along the rays. From Fig. (i),
we have total time for light to reach from P to Q
PO OQ AO sin i OB sin r OA sin i  (AB – OA)sin r AB sin r  OA (sin i  sin r)
= + = + = =
v1 v1 v1 v1 v1 v1
Different rays normal to the incident wavefront strike the surface at different points O and hence
have different values of OA. Since the time should be the same for all the rays, the right side of
equation must actually be Independent of OA. The condition, for this to happen is that the coefficient
of OA in Eq. (should be zero, i.e., sin i = sin r. We, thus have the law of reflection, i = r.
Figure (ii) also shows refraction at a plane surface separating medium 1 (speed of light v1) from
medium 2 (speed of light v2). The incident and refracted wavefronts are shown, making angles i and r'
with the boundary. Angle r' is called the angle of refraction. Rays perpendicular to these are also
drawn. As before, let us calculate the time taken to travel between the two wavefronts along any ray.
PO OR OA sin i (AC – OA)sin r ' AC sin r '  sin i sin r ' 
Time taken from P to R =      OA   
v1 v2 v1 v2 v2  v1 v2 
This time should again be independent of the ray we consider. The coefficient of OA in the equation
sin i v1
should be zero, therefore,   n 21 where n21 is the refractive index of medium 2 with respect to
sin r v 2
medium 1.
sin i c
This is the Snell's law of refraction. If the first medium is vacuum, we have   n2
sin r v 2
Where n2 is the refractive index of medium 2 with respect to vacuum, also called the absolute refractive
index of the medium. A similar equation defines absolute refractive index n1 of the first medium. From
v c  c  n
Eq. we then get n 21  1    /    2
v2  n1   n 2  n1

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 The absolute refractive index of air is about 1.0003, quite close to 1. Hence, for all practical
purposes, absolute refractive index of a medium may be taken with respect to air. For water, n1 =
1.33, which means v1 =, i.e. about 0.75 times the speed of light in vacuum. The measurement of the
speed of light in water by Foucault (1850) confirmed this prediction of the wave theory.

6. Refraction of light in prism, lens & spherical mirror

Once we have the laws of reflection and refraction, the behavior of prisms, lenses, and mirrors can be
understood. Here we just describe the behavior of the wavefronts in these three cases:

i. Consider a plane wave passing through a thin prism. Clearly, the portion of the
incoming wavefront which travels through the greatest thickness of glass has
been delayed the most. Since light travels more slowly in glass. This explains
the tilt in the emerging wavefront.
ii. Similarly, the central part of an incident plane wave traverses the thickest
portion of a convex lens and is delayed the most. The emerging wavefront has
a depression at the centre it is spherical and converges to a focus.

iii. A concave mirror produces a similar effect. The centre of the wavefront has to
travel a greater distance before and after getting reflected, when compared to
the edge. This again produces a converging spherical wavefront.
iv. Concave lenses and convex mirrors can be understood from time delay
arguments in a similar manner. One interesting property which is obvious from the pictures of
wavefronts is that the total time taken from a point on the object to the corresponding point on the
image is the same measured along any ray. For example, when a convex lens focuses light to form
a real image, it may seem that rays going through the centre are shorter. But because of the slower
speed in glass, the time taken is the same as for rays travelling near the edge of the lens.

PRINCIPLE OF LINEAR SUPERPOSITION

When two or more waves simultaneously pass through a point, the disturbance of the point is given by
the sum of the disturbances each wave would produce in absence of the other wave(s). In case of
wave on string disturbance means displacement, in case of sound wave it means pressure change, in
case of Electromagnetic wave it is electric field or magnetic field. Superposition of two light travelling in
almost same direction results in modification in the distribution of intensity of light in the region of
superposition. This phenomenon is called interference.

1. Superposition of two sinusoidal waves :

Consider superposition of two sinusoidal waves (having same frequency), at a particular point.
Let, x1 (t)  a1 sin  t and, x 2 (t)  a 2 sin( t   ) represents the displacement produced by each of the
disturbances. Here we are assuming the displacements to be in the same direction. Now according to
superposition principle, the resultant displacement will be given by,
x(t)  x1 (t)  x 2 (t)  a1 sin  t  a 2 sin( t   )
 Asin( t  0 )
Where,
A 2  a12  a 22  2a 1a 2 cos 
a 2 sin 
tan 0 
a1  a 2 cos 
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Ex. 1: If i1  3sin  t and i 2  4cos  t , find i 3 ?
Sol: From Kirchhoff’s current law,
i 3  i1  i 2
 3sin  t  4sin( t   / 2)
 5sin( t  530 )

Ex 2: S1 and S2 are two source of light which produce individually disturbance at point P given by
E1  3sin  t and E 2  4 cos  t . Assuming to be along the same line, find the result of their superposition.
Sol.

2. Superposition of progressive waves

Let S1 and S2 be two sources producing progressive waves (disturbance travelling in space given by y1
and y2). At point P,
y1  a1 sin( t  kx1  1 )
y 2  a 2 sin( t  kx 2   2 )
y  y1  y 2  A sin( t   )
Here, the phase difference,   ( t  kx1  1 )  ( t  kx 2   2 )  k(x 2  x1 )  (1   2 )
   k p  
Here p = x is the path difference. Clearly, phase difference due to path difference = k (path
difference)
2 2
Where k     x if 1   2
 
Amplitude A  A1  A 2  2A1A2 cos 
2 2

Intensity I  I1  I2  2 I1I2 cos 

For Constructive Interference

  2n n  0,1, 2,3.....
Or, x  n a max  a1  a 2

 
2
Intensity, Imax  I1  I2  2
Imax  I1  I 2

For Destructive interference

  (2n  1) n  0,1, 2,3.....
Or, x  (2n  1) / 2 a min  a1  a 2

 
2
Intensity, Imin  I1  I 2  I2min  I1  I 2

Ex. 3 Light from two sources, each of same frequency and travelling in same direction, but with
intensity in the ratio 4 : 1 interfere. Find ratio of maximum to minimum intensity.

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 2
 1 
2  1
 max  1   2 
2
    2  1   9 :1
Sol.    2
 min  1   2      2  1 
 1
 1 
 2 

In chapter Exercise

1. Light waves from two coherent sources superimpose at a point. the waves, at this point, can be

expressed as y1  a sin(1015  t) & y 2  2a sin 1015  t    . Find the resultant amplitude if the
phase difference ‘  ’ is


(i) zero (ii) (iii) 
3

2. In an experiment, the interfering wave have amplitudes in the ratio 3:2. Find the ratio of (a)
amplitude and (b) intensities, between the bright and dark fringes.

A max I
Ans: 1. (i) 3a (ii) 7a (iii) a 2.  5 , max  25
A min I min
3. Coherent and Incoherent source
Two sources which vibrate with a fixed phase difference between them are said to be coherent. The
phase difference between light coming from such sources does not depend on time. In a conventional
light source, however, light comes from a large number of individual atoms, each atom emitting a
pulse lasting for about 1 ns. Even if atoms were emitting under similar conditions, waves from different
atoms would differ in their initial phases. Consequently light coming from two such sources have a
fixed phase relationship for about 1ns, hence interference pattern will keep changing every billionth of
a second. The eye can notice intensity changes which lasts at least one tenth of a second. Hence we
will observe uniform intensity on the screen which is the sum of the two individual intensities. Such
sources are said to be incoherent. Light beam coming from two such independent sources do not have
any fixed phase relationship and they do not produce any stationary interference pattern. For such
sources, resultant intensity at any point is given by
 = 1 + 2 ...... (3.1)

Young’s Double Slit Experiment (YDSE)

In 1802 Thomas Young devised a method to produce a stationary interference pattern. This was based
upon division of a single wavefront into two; these two wavefronts acted as if they emanated from two
sources having a fixed phase relationship. Hence when they were allowed to interfere, stationary
interference pattern was observed.

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Figure 4.2 : The Young’s interference experiment, light r2
P
diffracted from pinhole S0 encounters pinholes S1 and S2 s2 y
in screen B. Light diffraction from these two pinholes r1

overlaps in the region between screen B and viewing d s
screen C. producing an interference pattern on screen C. A
0

s1

D
4.1 Analysis of Interference Pattern:

We have insured in the above arrangement that the light wave passing through S1 is in phase with that
passing through S2. However the wave reaching P from S2 may not be in phase with the wave reaching
P from S1, because the latter must travel a longer path to reach P than the former. We have already
discussed the phase-difference arising due to path difference. If the path difference is equal to zero or is
an integral multiple of wavelengths, the arriving waves are exactly in phase and undergo constructive
interference. If the path difference is an odd multiple of half a wavelength, the arriving waves are out of
phase and undergo fully destructive interference. Thus, it is the path difference x, which determines
the intensity at a point P.
2 2
 d  d r2
Path difference p = S1P – S2P = y  D  y  D
2 2

 2  2 
s2


For D >> d, we can approximate rays r1 and r2 as being approximately parallel, d
at angle  to the principle axis.
Now, S1P – S2P = S1A = S1S2sin s1 A r1
 path difference = d sin 

y dy
further if  is small, i.e. y<<D, sin   tan   and hence, path difference x 
D D
(constructive interference),
dy
x   n
D
n D
 y , n  0, 1, 2.....
d
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Here n = 0 corresponds to the central maxima
n = ±1 correspond to the 1st maxima
n = ±2 correspond to the 2nd maxima and so on.
(destructive interference).
 3 5
x   ,  ,  .....
2 2 2
 
 (2n  1) 2 n  1, 2,3,.... 
x  
(2n  1)  n  1, 2, 3,....
 2
 D
(2n  1) 2d n  1, 2,3,....
Consequently, y
(2n  1)  D n  1, 2, 3,....
 2d
Here n = ± 1 corresponds to first minima,
n = ± 2 corresponds to second minima and so on.

Fringe width: D3

It is the distance between two maxima of successive order on one  maxima D2

B2

side of the central maxima. This is also equal to distance between B1 First maxima
S2
two successive minima.  maxima D1

D B0 Central maxima
Fringe width    S1 D1
d B1
Notice that it is directly proportional to wavelength and inversely D2 
proportional to the distance between the two slits. D3
B2

B3
Maximum order of Interference Fringes: Figure : 4.5 fringe pattern in YDSE
n D
In section 4.1 we obtained, y  , n = 0, ± 1, ± 2 ..... for interference maxima, but n cannot take
d
infinitely large values, as that would violate the approximation (II) i.e., is small or y << D

y n
   1 
D d
d
Hence the above formulas for interference maxima/minima are applicable when n  . When n

becomes comparable to d /  we cannot use approximation (II). We have to use approximation (I) for
d sin 
path difference. Hence for maxima x  n  d sin   n  n 

d s2
Hence highest order of interference maxima, n max    . Where [ ] represents the
 
greatest integer function. Similarly highest order of interference minima, s1
d 1
n min    
 2
Aliter
 p = S1P – S2P
 x  d   x max = d
(3rd side of a triangle is always greater than the difference in length of the other two sides)
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4.4. Intensity:
Suppose the electric field components of the light waves arriving at point P(in the Figure : 4.3) from
the two slits S1 and S2 vary with time as
E1 = E0 sin t and E2 = E0 sin (t + )
Here  = kx = x and we have assumed that intensity of the two slits S1 and S2 are
same (say I0); hence waves have same amplitude E0.
Then the resultant electric field at point P is given by,
E = E1 + E2 = E0 sin t + E0 sin (t + ) = E0´ sin (t +´)
where E0´2 = E02 + E02 + 2E0 . E0 cos  = 4 E02 cos2 /2
Hence the resultant intensity at point P,
 = 40 cos2 /2

max = 40 when  n n  0, 1, 2,.... ,
2
 1
min = 0 when  (n  ) n  0, 1, 2,...
2 2
2
Here    kx  x 

2
If D >> d,    d sin  

2 y
If D >> d & y << D,   d
 D
However if the two slits were of different intensities I1 and I2,
say E1  E 01sin t ; and E 2  E 02sin ( t   )
then resultant field at point P,
E  E1  E 2  E0 sin ( t   ) Where, E 02  E 201  E 02
2
 2E 01 E 02 cos
Hence resultant intensity at point P,
I  I1  I2  2 I1I2 cos

Ex. 4 In a YDSE, D = 1m, d = 1mm and  = 1/2 mm

(i) Find the distance between the first and central maxima on the screen.
(ii) Find the no of maxima and minima obtained on the screen.
d
Sol. D >> d ; Hence x  d sin  2,

d
clearly, n   2 is not possible for any value of n.

dy
Hence x  cannot be used for Ist maxima,
D
x  d sin  
d 1
 sin       300
 2
1
Hence, y  D tan   m
3

(ii) Maximum path difference

xmax = d = 1 mm

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 d d 1
 Highest order maxima, n max     2 and highest order minima n min      2
   2
Total no. of maxima = 2nmax + 1 = 5 (central maxima).
Total no. of minima = 2nmin = 4

Ex. 5 Monochromatic light of wavelength 5000 Aº is used in Y.D.S.E., with slit-width, d= 1mm,
distance between screen and slits, D = 1m. If intensity at the two slits are, 1 = 40,2 = 0, find
(i) fringe width 
(ii) distance of 5th minima from the central maxima on the screen
(iii) Intensity at y = mm
(iv) Distance of the 1000th maxima
(v) Distance of the 5000th maxima
D
Sol. (i)  = 0.5 mm
d
D
(ii) y  (2n  1) , as n = 5  y = 2.25 mm
d
dy 2 dy 4
(iii) At y = mm, y << D ; Hence x  ;   
D D 3
Now resultant intensity,
4
I  I1  I2  2 I1I 2 cos   4I 0  I0  2 4I02 cos  5I0  4I0 cos  3I0
3
d
(iv)  2000 n = 1000 is not very less than 1

Hence now x  d sin  must be used Hence, d sin   n  1000
 1 1
 sin   1000     300 y  D tan   m
d 2 3
(v) Highest order maxima

d 
n max     2000 ; Hence, n = 5000 is not possible.
 

5. SHAPE OF INTERFERENCE FRINGES IN YDSE

We discuss the shape of fringes when two pinholes are used instead of the two slits in YDSE.
Fringes are locus of points which move in such a way that its path difference from the two slits remains
constant.
S2 P – S1P  x  constant
 3
If x   the fringe represents 1st minima, if x   it represents 2nd minima.
2 2
If  x  0 it represents central maxima, if x    , it represents 1st maxima etc.
Above equation of path difference represents a hyperbola with its two foci at S1 and S2. The
interference pattern which we get on screen is the section of hyperboloid of revolution when we
revolve the hyperbola about the axis S1S2.
A.If the screen is perpendicular to the X axis, i.e. in the YZ plane, as is generally the case, fringes are
hyperbolic with a straight central section.
B.If the screen is in the XY plane, again fringes are hyperbolic.

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C.If screen is perpendicular to Y axis (along S1S2), i.e. in the XZ plane, fringes are concentric circles

with center on the axis S1S2; the central fringe is bright if S1S2 = n and dark if S1S2   2n –1 .
2

6. YDSE WITH WHITE LIGHT

The central maxima will be white because all wavelengths will constructively interference here.
However slightly below (or above) the position of central maxima fringes will be coloured. for example
if P is a point on the screen such that
violet
S2 P – S1P   190 nm,
2
completely destructive interference will occur for violet light. Hence we will have a line devoid of violet
colour that will appear reddish. And if
red
S2 P – S1P   350 nm,
2
completely destructive interference for red light results and the line at this position will be violet. The
coloured fringes disappear at points far away from the central white fringe; for these points there are so
many wavelengths which interfere constructively, that we obtain a uniform white illumination. for
example if
S2 P – S1P  3000 nm,
3000
then constructive interference will occur for wavelengths   nm . In the visible region these
n
wavelength are 750 nm (red), 600 nm (yellow), 500 nm (greenish–yellow), and 430 nm (violet).
Clearly such a light will appear white to the unaided eye.
Thus with white light we get a white central fringe at the point of zero path difference, followed by a
few colored fringes on its both sides, the color soon fading off to a uniform white.
In the usual interference pattern with a monochromatic source, a large number of identical
interference fringes are obtained and it is usually not possible to determine the position of central
maxima. Interference with white light is used to determine the position of central maxima in such
cases.
Ex. 6 A beam of light consisting of wavelengths 6000Å and 4500Å is used in a YDSE with D = 1m
and d = 1 mm. Find the least distance from the central maxima, where bright fringes due to the two
wavelengths coincide.
D1 D
Sol. 1   .6mm ;  2  2  .45mm
d d
Let n1th maxima of 1 and n2th maxima of 2 coincide at a position y.

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 then, y  n11 = n 2  2  LCM of 1 and  2  y  1.8 mm
Ans. At this point 3rd maxima for 6000 Å & 4th maxima for 4500 Å coincide

Ex. 7 White light is used in a YDSE with D = 1m and d = 0.9 mm. Light reaching the screen at
position y = 1 mm is passed through a prism and its spectrum is obtained. Find the missing
lines in the visible region of this spectrum.
yd
Sol. x   9 104  1103 m  900nm
D
2x
For minima x   2n – 1  / 2  =
(2n  1)
1800 1800 1800 1800
  , , , ........
1 3 5 7
of these 600 nm and 360 nm lie in the visible range. Hence these will be missing lines in the visible
spectrum.

GEOMETRICAL PATH AND OPTICAL PATH

Actual distance travelled by light in a medium is called geometrical path (x). Consider a light wave
given by the equation E = E0 sin (t – kx + )

If the light travels by x, its phase changes by kx  x , where , the frequency of light does not
v
c
depend on the medium, but v, the speed of light depends on the medium as v  .


Consequently, change in phase,  =kx  x
c
It is clear that a wave travelling a distance x in a medium of refractive index  suffers the same phase
change as when it travels a distance x in vacuum. i.e. a path length of x in medium of refractive
index  is equivalent to a path length of x in vacuum.
The quantity x is called the optical path length of light, xopt . And in terms of optical path length,
phase difference would be given by,
 2
  x opt  x opt
c 0
where 0 = wavelength of light in vacuum.
However in terms of the geometrical path length x,
 2
  x  x
c 
0
where  = wavelength of light in the medium (   ).

Displacement of fringe: on introduction of a glass slab in the path
of the light coming out of the slits–On introduction of the thin glass-slab
of thickness t and refractive index , the optical path of the ray S1P
increases by t( – 1). Now the path difference between waves coming from
S1 and S2 at any point P is Figure 7.1
x  S2 P – (S1P + t (  – 1))  (S2 P – S1P) – t(  – 1)
 x  d sin – t ( –1) if d  D
For central bright fringe, x = 0
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 yd D 
  t(   1)  y  OO '  (   1)t  (   1)t
D d 
D 
The whole fringe pattern gets shifted by the same distance x  (   1)t
 (   1)t
d 
* Notice that this shift is in the direction of the slit before which the glass slab is placed. If the glass slab
is placed before the upper slit, the fringe pattern gets shifted upwards and if the glass slab is placed
before the lower slit the fringe pattern gets shifted downwards.

Ex. 8 In a YDSE with d = 1mm and D = 1m, slabs of (t = 1m,  = 3) and (t = 0.5 m,  = 2) are
introduced in front of upper and lower slit respectively. Find the shift in the fringe pattern.
Sol. Optical path for light coming from upper slit S1 is

S1P  1 m(3  1)  S1P  2 m

Similarly optical path for light coming from S2 is S2 P  .5 m(2  1)  S2 P  .5 m

Path difference : x  (S2 P  0.5 m) – (S1P  2 m)  (S2 P – S1P) –1.5 m

yd
x  –1.5 m . For central bright fringe x= 0
D
1.5 m
 y 1m  1.5mm The whole pattern is shifted by 1.5 mm upwards.
1mm

YDSE WITH OBLIQUE INCIDENCE

In YDSE, ray is incident on the slit at an inclination of 0 to the axis of symmetry of the experimental
set-up for points above the central point on the screen, (say for P1)
x  d sin0  (S2 P1 – S1P1 )
nd for
 x  dsin 0  d sin 1  If d  D 
points below O on the screen, (say for P2)
x  (d sin 0  S2 P2 ) – S1P2  d sin 0 -(S1 P2 - S2 P2 )
We
 x  d sin  0  d sin  2  If d  D 
obtain central maxima at a point where, p = 0.
(d sin 0  d sin  2 )  0
or 2 = 0.
Figure: 8.1
This corresponds to the point O’ in the diagram.
Hence we have finally for path difference.
d(sin 0  sin  ) for points above O

x  d(sin 0  sin  ) for points between O & O '
d(sin   sin  ) for points below O '
 0
Figure: 8.2
Ex. 9 In YDSE with D = 1m, d = 1mm, light of wavelength 500 nm is incident at an angle of 0.57º
w.r.t. the axis of symmetry of the experimental set up. If centre of symmetry of screen is O as shown.
i. find the position of central maxima
ii. Intensity at point O in terms of intensity of central maxima I0.
iii. Number of maxima lying between O and the central maxima.

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  .57 
Sol. (i)    0  .57 0  y   D tan    D  1m     1cm
 57 
(ii) for point 0,   0
Hence,  x  d sin  0  d  0 =1mm  (10 2 rad)=10,000nm=20  (500nm)
 x  20
Hence point O corresponds to 20th maxima
 Intensity at O = I0
(iii) 19 maxima lie between central maxima and O, excluding maxima at O and central
maxima.

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 EXERCISE - 1
(Single Choice Questions)

1. Figure, shows wave fronts in still water, moving in the direction of the arrow
towards the interface PQ between a shallow region and a deep (denser)
region. Which of the lines shown may represent one of the wave fronts in
the deep region?
(A) I (B) II (C) III (D) IV

2. When light is refracted into a denser medium,

(A) its wavelength and frequency both increases
(B) its wavelength increase but frequency remains unchanged
(C) its wavelength decrease but frequency remains unchanged
(D) its wavelength and frequency both decrease.
3. In a YDSE, the central bright fringe can be identified :
(A) as it has greater intensity than the other bright fringes.
(B) as it is wider than the other bright fringes.
(C) as it is narrower than the other bright fringes.
(D) by using white light instead of single wavelength light.

4. In Young's double slit experiment, the wavelength of red light is 7800 Å and that of blue light is
5200 Å. The value of n for which nth bright band due to red light coincides with (n + 1)th bright
band due to blue light, is :
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

5. If the Young's double slit experiment is performed with white light, then which of the following is
not true?
(A) the central maximum will be white (B) there will not be a completely dark fringe
(C) the fringe next to the central will be re (D) the fringe next to the central will be violet

6. Imagine a Young's double slit interference experiment performed with waves associated with fast
moving electrons produced from an electron gun. The distance between successive maxima will
decrease maximum if
(A) the accelerating voltage in the electron gun is decreased
(B) the accelerating voltage is increased and the distance of the screen from the slits is decreased
(C) the distance of the screen from the slits is increased.
(D) the distance between the slits is decreased.

7. In Young's double slit experiment, the two slits act as coherent sources of equal amplitude A and
wavelength . In another experiment with the same setup the two slits are sources of equal
amplitude A and wavelength  but are incoherent. The ratio of the intensity of light at the
midpoint of the screen in the first case to that in the second case is
(A) 1:1 (B) 2:1 (C) 4:1 (D) None of these

8. In a Young's double slit experiment, a small detector measures an intensity of illumination of I

units at the centre of the fringe pattern. If one of the two (identical) slits is now covered, the
measured intensity will be
(A) 2I (B) I (C) I/4 (D) I/2
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9. Light of wavelength 520 nm passing through a double slit, produces
interference pattern of relative intensity versus deflection angle  as
shown in the figure. The separation d between the slits is
(A) 2 × 10–2 mm (B) 5 × 10–2 mm
(C) 4.5 × 10 mm
–2 (D) 1.1 × 10–2 mm

10. In a YDSE apparatus, two identical slits are separated by 1 mm and distance between slits
and screen is 1 m. The wavelength of light used is 6000 Å. The minimum distance between two
points on the screen having 75% intensity of the maximum intensity is :
(A) 0.45 mm (B) 0.40 mm (C) 0.30 mm (D) 0.20 mm

11. In a young double slit experiment D equals the distance of screen and d is the separation
between the slit. The distance of the nearest point to the central maximum where the intensity is
same as that due to a single slit, is equal to
D D D 2D
(A) (B) (C) (D)
d 2d 3d d
12. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 6500Å and 5200Å is used to obtain interference
fringes in Young’s double slit experiment. The distance between slits is 2 mm and the distance of
screen from slits is 120 cm. What is the least distance from central maximum where the bright due
to both wavelengths coincide?
(A) 0.156 cm (B) 0.312 cm (C) 0.078 cm (D) 0.468 cm

13. In a two slit experiment with monochromatic light, fringes are obtained on a screen placed at
some distance from the slits. If the screen is moved by 5 × 10–2 m towards the slits, the change in
fringe width is 3 × 10–5 m. If separation between the slits is 10–3m, the wavelength of light used is:
(A) 6000 Å (B) 5000 Å (C) 3000 Å (D) 4500 Å

14. The ratio of the intensity at the centre of a bright fringe to the intensity at a point one–quarter of
the fringe width from the centre is
(A) 2 (B) 1/2 (C) 4 (D) 16

15. In a Young's Double slit experiment, first maxima is observed at a fixed

point P on the screen. Now the screen is continuously moved away from
the plane of slits. The ratio of intensity at point P to the intensity at point O
(centre of the screen)
(A) remains constant (B) keeps on decreasing
(C) first decreases and then increases (D) First decreases and then becomes constant

16. In a double slit experiment, the separation between the slits is d = 0.25 cm and the distance of
the screen D = 100 cm from the slits. If the wavelength of light used is  = 6000Å and I0 is the
intensity of the central bright fringe, the intensity at a distance x = 4 × 10–5 m from the central
maximum is
(A) I0 (B) I0/2 (C) 3I0/4 (D) I0/3

17. In young’s double slit experiment, the value of  = 500 nm. The value of d = 1 mm, D = 1 m.
Then the minimum distance from central maximum for which the intensity is half the maximum
intensity will be
(A) 2.5 × 10–4 m (B) 2 × 10–4 m (C) 1.25 × 10–4 m (D) 10–4 m

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18. Two slits are separated by 0.3 mm. A beam of 500 nm light strikes the slits producing an
interference pattern. The number of maxima observed in the angular range – 30° <  < 30°.
(A) 300 (B) 150 (C) 599 (D) 149

19. In the figure shown if a parallel beam of white light is incident on the plane of
the slits then the distance of the white spot on the screen from O is [Assume
d << D,  << d]
(A) 0 (B) d/2 (C) d/3 (D) d/6

20. In the above question if the light incident is monochromatic and point O is a maxima, then the
wavelength of the light incident cannot be
(A) d 2 3D (B) d 2 6D (C) d 2 12D (D) d 2 18D
21. In YDSE, the source placed symmetrically with respect to the slit is now moved parallel to the
plane of the slits so that it is closer to the upper slit, as shown. Then,
(A) the fringe width will increase and fringe pattern will shift down.
(B) the fringe width will remain same but fringe pattern will shift up.
(C) the fringe width will decrease and fringe pattern will shift down.
(D) the fringe width will remain same but fringe pattern will shift down.

22. In a YDSE experiment if a slab whose refractive index can be varied is placed in front of one of
the slits then the variation of resultant intensity at mid-point of screen with ‘’ will be best
represented by (  1).[Assume slits of equal width and there is no absorption by slab]

(A) (B) (C) (D)

23. Two point source separated by d = 5 m emit light of wavelength  = 2 m in

phase. A circular wire of radius 20 mm is placed around the source as shown
in figure.
(A) Point A and B are dark and points C and D are bright.
(B) Points A and B are bright and point C and D are dark.
(C) Points A and C are dark and points B and D are bright.
(D) Points A and C are bright and points B and D are dark.

24. Two monochromatic (wavelength = a/5) and coherent sources of electromagnetic waves are
placed on the x-axis at the points (2a, 0) and (–a, 0). A detector moves in a circle of radius
R(>>2a) whose centre is at the origin. The number of maximas detected during one circular
revolution by the detector are
(A) 60 (B) 15 (C) 64 (D) None

25. Two coherent sources of light are placed at points (–5a/2 , 0) and (+5a/2 , 0). Wavelength of the
light is  =4a/3. How many maximas will be obtained on a CD planar circle of large radius with
centre at origin?
(A) 12 (B) 15 (C) 16 (D) 14

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26. A student is asked to measure the wavelength of monochromatic
light. He sets up the apparatus sketched below. S1, S2, S3 are
narrow parallel slits, L is a sodium lamp and M is a microscope
eyepiece. The student fails to observe interference fringes. Your
first advice to him will be

(A) increase the width of S1 (B) decrease the distance between S2 and S3
(C) replace L with a white light source (D) replace M with a telescope

27. Light of wavelength l in air enters a medium of refractive index . Two points in this medium,
lying along the path of this light, are at a distance x apart. The phase difference between these
points is :
2 x 2 x 2 (   1)x
(A) (B) (C) (D) none
  

28. Young’s double slit experiment is carried with two thin sheets of thickness 10.4 m each and
refractive index 1= 1.52 and 2 =1.40 covering the slits S1 and S2, respectively. If white light of
range 400 nm to 780 nm is used then which wavelength will form maxima exactly at point O, the
centre of the screen?
(A) 416 nm only (B) 624 nm only
(C) 416 nm and 624 nm only (D) none of these

29. A light of wavelength 6300Å shine on a two narrow slits separated by a distance 1.0 mm and
illuminates a screen at a distance 1.5 m away. When one slit is covered by a thin glass of
refractive index 1.8 and other slit by a thin glass plate of refractive index , the central maxima
shifts by 6°. Both plates have same thickness of 0.5 mm. The value of refractive index  of the
plate is
(A) 1.6 (B) 1.7 (C) 1.5 (D) 1.4

30. In the YDSE shown the two slits are covered with thin sheets having
thickness t & 2t and refractive index 2 and . Find the position (y) of central
maxima
tD tD
(A) zero (B) (C)  (D) None
d d

31. In a YDSE with two identical slits, when the upper slits is covered with a thin, perfectly
transparent sheet of mica, the intensity at the centre of screen reduces to 75% of the initial value.
Second minima is observed to be above this point and third maxima below it. Which of the
following cannot be a possible value of phase difference caused by the mica sheet
 13 17 11
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 3 3 3
32. The figure shows a transparent slab of length 1m placed in air whose
refractive index in x direction varies as  = 1 + x2(0 < x < 1). The optical path
length of ray R will be
(A) 1 m (B) 2/3m (C) 4/3m (D) 2 m

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 EXERCISE - II
(One or more than one option may be correct)
1. A light of wavelength 600nm in air enters a medium of refractive index 1.5. Inside the medium:
(A) its frequency is 5 × 1014 Hz (B) its frequency is 7.5 × 1014 Hz
(C) its wavelength is 400nm (D) its wavelength is 900nm

2. White light is used to illuminate two slits in a YDSE. The separation between the slits is d and the
screen is at a distance D (D >> d) from the slits. At a point on the screen directly in front of one of
the slits, which of the following wavelengths are missing?
d2 2d 2 d2 2d 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
D D 3D 3D

3. In a YDSE apparatus, we use white light then :

(A) the fringe next to the central will be red (B) the central fringe will be white.
(C) the fringe next to the central will be violet (D) there will not be a completely dark fringe.

4. If the source of light used in a Young's Double Slit Experiment is changed from red to blue, then
(A) the fringes will become brighter
(B) consecutive fringes will come closer
(C) the number of maxima formed on the screen increases
(D) the central bright fringe will become a dark fringe.

5. In a Young's double slit experiment, green light is incident on the two slits.
The interference pattern is observed on a screen. Which of the following
changes would cause the observed fringes to be more closely spaced?
(A) Reducing the separation between the slits
(B) Using blue light instead of green light
(C) Used red light instead of green light
(D) Moving the light source further away from the slits.
6. In a YDSE, if the slits are of unequal width :
(A) fringes will not be formed
(B) the positions of minimum intensity will not be completely dark
(C) bright fringe will not be formed at the centre of the screen.
(D) distance between two consecutive bright fringes will not be equal to the distance between two
consecutive dark fringes.

7. If one of the slits of a standard YDSE apparatus is covered by a thin parallel sided glass slab so that
it transmit only one half of the light intensity of the other, then :
(A) the fringe pattern will get shifted towards the covered slit.
(B) the fringe pattern will get shifted away from the covered slit.
(C) the bright fringes will be less bright and the dark ones will be more bright.
(D) the fringe width will remain unchanged.

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8. The figure shows two points source which emit light of wavelength  in phase with each other and
are at a distance d = 5.5  apart along a line which is perpendicular to a large screen at a distance
L from the centre of the source. Assume that d is much less
than L. Which of the following statement is (are) correct?
(A) Only five bright fringes appear on the screen
(B) Only six bright fringes appear on the screen
(C) Point y = 0 corresponds to bright fringe
(D) Point y = 0 corresponds to dark fringe.

9. In a Young's double-slit experiment, let A and B be the two slits. A thin film of thickness t and
refractive index  is placed in front of A. Let β = fringe width. The central maximum will shift:
(   1)t  t
(A) towards A (B) towards B (C) by (D) by
 

10. In the previous question, films of thicknesses tA and tB and refractive indices A and B , are placed
in front of A and B respectively. If AtA = BtB, the central maximum will :
(A) not shift (B) shift towards A, if tB > tA
(C) shift towards B, if tB < tA (D) None

11. In a double slit experiment, instead of taking slits of equal widths, one slit is made twice as wide as
the other. Then in the interference pattern :
(A) the intensities of both the maxima and minima increase.
(B) the intensity of the maxima increases and the minima has zero intensity.
(C) the intensity of the maxima decreases and that of minima increases.
(D) the intensity of the maxima decreases and the minima has zero intensity.

12. To make the central fringe at the centre O, a mica sheet of refractive index 1.5 is introduced.
Choose the correct statements (s).
(A) The thickness of sheet is 2( 2  1)d in front of S1.

(B) The thickness of sheet is 2d in front of S2.

(C) The thickness of sheet is ( 2  1)d in front of S1.
(D) The thickness of sheet is 2( 2  1)d in front of S2.

EXERCISE - III
Passage # 1

The figure shows a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of Young's

Double Slit Experiment
1. Choose the incorrect statement(s) related to the wavelength of light used
(a) Larger the wavelength of light larger the fringe width
(b) The position of central maxima depends on the wavelength of light used
(c) If white light is used in YDSE, then the violet colour forms its first maxima
closest to the central maxima
(d) The central maxima of all the wavelengths coincide

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2. If the distance D is varied, then choose the correct statement(s)
(a) The angular fringe width does not change
(b) The fringe width changes in direct proportion
(c) The change in fringe width is same for all wavelengths
(d) The position of central maxima remains unchanged
3. If the distance d is varied, then identify the correct statement
(a) The angular width does not change
(b) The fringe width changes in inverse proportion
(c) The positions of all maxima change
(d) The positions of all minima change

Passage # 2
One slit of a young’s experiment is covered by a glass plate (n = 1.4) and the other of same thickness,
anther glass plate (n = 1.7). The point of central maximum on the screen, before the plates were
o
introduced is now occupied by the previous fifth bright fringe. (   4800 A )

4. The thickness of the plates are:

(a) 8 m (b) 8  10-3 cm
(c) 4 m (d) 16 m

5. Now, if the distance between the slits is reduced to half, the

phase difference at the centre of the screen is (O) :
(a)  (b) 0
 
(c) (d)
2 4

6. When G2 is replaced by a glass plate G3 (n3 = 1.55) then at O.


(a) The intensity of light will be maximum (b) phase difference is
2

(c) Phase difference is (d) The intensity of light will be minimum
3
1
7. It the thickness of the glass is reduced to th of the original thickness and G3 is replaced by G2
4
again, then at O the intensity will be
(a) maximum (b) minimum (c) I0 (d) 2 I0

Assertion & Reason

(A) If both the statements are True and Statement -2 is the correct explanation of Statement -1
(B) If both the Statements are True but Statement-2 is not the correct explanation of Statement-1
(C) If Statement – 1 is True and Statement – 2 is False
(D) If Statement – 1 is False and Statement – 2 is true.

8. Statement - 1: Two waves produce interference pattern only if they originate from coherent
sources.
Statement -2: The phase difference so remains constant in time by two different coherent
sources.
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9. Statement - 1: When a drop of oil is spread on a water surface it displays beautiful colors in
delight.
Statement - 2: Polarization of light occurs when it reaches the surface.

10. Statement -1: If YDSE is performed in water, the fringe width increases
Statement- 2: The wavelength of light decreases in water.

11. Statement- 1: When YDSE is performed with white light, the central fringe is white.
Statement- 2: The fringe-width will be different for different wavelengths for YDSE with
white light

12. Statement- 1: Laser light is considered to the coherent

Statement- 2: Laser light contains co-ordinate waves of exactly same wavelength.

13. Statement -1: Central light fringe remains un-shifted when water is filled between the screen
and the slits.
Statement- 2: Wavelength of light decreases in water.

Match the following: (one OR more than one option may be correct)
14. Column – I Column – II
(a) Properties that conclusively support wave (p) Reflection
theory of light
(b) Fringe width decreases when YDSE setup is (q) Speed of light in water is smaller
immersed in water because than speed of light in vacuum
(c) Properties that show light is a transverse (r) Interference
wave
(d) A soap film separated over water surface (s) Polarization
appears colored due to

15. Column – I Column – II

(a) If source of light used in YDSE is changed (p) Increase
from red to violet, fringe width
(b) When a thin transparent sheet is placed in (q) Decrease
front of slits in a YDSE, fringe width
(c) When light is refracted into a medium, its (r) Remains the same
wavelength
(d) In a regular YDSE, if one of the slits is (s) Will depend on other factors
covered with glass so that light intensity
passing through it reduces then, intensity at the
maxima

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16. Column – I Column – II
(a) In a YDSE, if source of light is changed (p) Fringe width decreases
from blue to red, then
(b) If D is increased (q) No. of maxima formed on the
screen
(c) If YDSE setup is immersed in oil with (r) Angular fringe width remains the
refractive index of 4/3 same
(d) For YDSE with oblique incidence (s) the position of central maxima
changes

EXERCISE - IV
(Subjective Type)
1. In a Young's double slit experiment for interference of light, the slits are 0.2 cm apart and are
illuminated by yellow light ( = 600 nm). What would be the fringe width on a screen placed 1 m
from the plane of slits if the whole system is immersed in water of index 4/3?
2. In Young’s double slit experiment, 12 fringes are observed to be formed in a certain segment of
the screen when light of wavelength 600 nm is used. If the wavelength of the light is changed to
400 nm, find the number of fringes observed in the same segment.

3. Light of wavelength 520 nm passing through a double slit,

produces interference pattern of relative intensity versus
deflection angle q as shown in the figure. Find the separation d
between the slits.
4. In Young's double slit experiment the slits are 0.5 mm apart and the interference is observed on a
screen at a distance of 100 cm from the slit. It is found that the 9th bright fringe is at a distance of
7.5 mm from the second dark fringe from the centre of the fringe pattern on same side. Find the
wavelength of the light used.
5. In a YDSE apparatus, d = 1mm, l = 600nm and D = 1m. The slits produce same intensity on
the screen. Find the minimum distance between two points on the screen having 75% intensity of
the maximum intensity.
6. The distance between two slits in a YDSE apparatus is 3mm. The distance of the screen from the
slits is 1m. Microwaves of wavelength 1 mm are incident on the plane of the slits normally. Find
the distance of the first maxima on the screen from the central maxima.
7. In a two - slit experiment with monochromatic light, fringes are obtained on a screen placed at
some distance from the slits. If the screen is moved by 5 × 102 m towards the slits, the change in
fringe width is 3 × 105. If the distance between the slits is 10-3 m, calculate the wavelength of the
light used.
8. A source S is kept directly behind the slit S1 in a double-slit apparatus.
What will be the phase difference at P if a liquid of refraction index 
is filled; (wavelength of light in air is  due to the source, assume
>> d, D >> d).
I.Between the screen and the slits.
II. Between the slits & the source S. In this case find the minimum
distance between the points on the screen where the intensity is half
the maximum intensity on the screen.
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9. Two slits S1 & S2 on the x - axis & symmetric with respect to y-axis are
illuminated by a parallel monochromatic light beam of wavelength .The
distance between the slits is d (>> ). Point M is the midpoint of the line
S1S2 & this point is considered as the origin. The slits are in horizontal
plane. The interference pattern is observed on a horizontal plate (acting as
screen) of mass M, which is attached to one end of a vertical spring of
spring constant K. The other end of the spring is fixed to ground. At t = 0
the plate is at a distance D (>>d) below the plane of slits & the spring is in its natural length.
The plate is left from rest from its initial position. Find the x & y co-ordinates of the nth maxima
on the plate as function of time. Assume that spring is light & plate always remains horizontal.

10. In a YDSE a parallel beam of light of wavelength 6000 Å is incident on slits at angle of incidence
30º. A & B are two thin transparent films each of refractive index 1.5. Thickness of A is 20.4 m.
Light coming through A & B has intensities I & 4I respectively on the screen. Intensity at point O
which is symmetric relative to the slits is 3 I. The central maximum is above O.
(A) What is the maximum thickness of B to do so. Assuming thickness
of B to be that found in part (a) answer the following parts.

(B) Find fringe width, maximum intensity & minimum intensity on

screen.
(C) Distance of nearest minima from O.
(D) Intensity at 5 cm on either side of O.

11. In a Young's double slit experiment a parallel light beam containing wavelength 1 = 4000Å and
2 = 5600Å is incident on a diaphragm having two narrow slits. Separation between the slits is
d = 2 mm. If distance between diaphragm and screen is D = 40 cm, calculate :
I.Distance of first black line from central bright fringe.
II.Distance between two consecutive black lines.

12. In the figure shown S is a monochromatic point source emitting light of

wavelength = 500 nm. A thin lens of circular shape and focal length
0.10 m is cut into two identical halves L1 and L2 by a plane passing
through a diameter. The two halves are placed symmetrically about the
central axis SO with a gap of 0.5 mm. The distance along the axis from
S to L1 and L2 is 0.15 m, while that from L1 & L2 to O is 1.30 m. The
screen at O is normal to SO.
I.If the 3rd maxima occur at the point A on the screen, find the distance OA.
II.If the gap between L1 & L2 is reduced from its original value of 0.5 mm, will the distance OA
increase, decrease or remain the same?

13. In the ideal double slit experiment, when a glass plate (refractive index 1.5)
of thickness t is introduced in the path of one of the interfering beams
(wavelength ), the intensity at the position where the central maximum
occurred previously remains unchanged. Find the minimum thickness of the
glass plate.

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14. A ray of light of intensity I is incident on a parallel glass-slab at a point A as shown in figure. It
undergoes partial reflection and refraction. At each reflection 20% of incident energy is reflected.
The rays AB and A’B’ undergo interference. Find the ratio Imax/Imin.

15. In a Young's double slit experiment with a mica sheet of thickness t and refractive index  is
introduced in front of S1. If the mica-sheet is removed from earlier position and placed in front of
S2 find the number of fringes crossing O.

16. A long narrow horizontal slit lies 1mm above a plane mirror. The interference pattern produced
by the slit and its image is viewed on a screen distant 1m from the slit. The wavelength of light is
600nm. Find the distance of first maximum above the mirror.

17. Two coherent sources S1 and S2 separated by distance 2 emit light

wavelengthin phase as shown in figure. A circular wire of radius 100 is
placed in such a way that S1S2 lies in its plane and the midpoint of S1S2 is at the
centre of wire. Find the angular positions q on the wire for which intensity
reduces to half of its maximum value.

18. A monochromatic light of  = 5000 Å is incident on two slits separated by a distance of 5 × 104 m.
The interference pattern is seen on a screen placed at a distance of 1 m from the slits. A thin glass
plate of thickness 1.5 × 106 m & refractive index  = 1.5 is placed between one of the slits & the
screen. Find the intensity at the centre of the screen, if the intensity there is I0 in the absence of
the plate. Also find the lateral shift of the central maximum.

19. If the slits of the double slit were moved symmetrically apart with relative velocity v, calculate the
rate at which fringes pass a point at a distance x from the centre of the fringe system formed on a
screen y distance away from the double slits if wavelength of light is  . Assume y >> d & d >>  .

20. (a) A thin glass plate of thickness t and refractive index  is inserted between screen & one of the
slits in a Young's experiment. If the intensity at the centre of the screen is I, what was the intensity
at the same point prior to the introduction of the sheet?
(b)One slit of a Young's experiment is covered by a glass plate ( 1  1.4 ) and the other by
another glass plate ( 2  1.7 ) of the same thickness. The point of central maxima on the screen,
before the plates were introduced is now occupied by the third bright fringe. Find the thickness of
the plates, the wavelength of light used is 4000 Å.

21. In a YDSE experiment, the distance between the slits & the screen is 100 cm. For a certain
distance between the slits, an interference pattern is observed on the screen with the fringe width
0.25 mm. When the distance between the slits is increased byd = 1.2 mm, the fringe width
decreased to n = 2/3 of the original value. In the final position, a thin glass plate of refractive
index 1.5 is kept in front of one of the slits & the shift of central maximum is observed to be 20
fringe widths. Find the thickness of the plate & wavelength of the incident light.

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22. A plane wave of mono chromatic light of wavelength 6000Å is
incident on the plane of two slits s1 and s2 at angle of incidence
 = (1.8/)0. The widths of s1 and s2 are w and 2w respectively. A
thin transparent film of thickness 4m and R.I. 3/2 is placed in front
of s1. It absorbs 50% light energy and transmits the remaining. The
interference is observed on the screen. Point O is equidistant from s1
and s2. If the maximum intensity on the screen is I then find:
(i) Intensity at O (ii) Minimum intensity
(iii) Fringe width (iv) Distance of nearest maxima from 0
(v) Distance of central maxima from 0. (vi) Intensity at 4mm from 0 upwards.

23. A narrow monochromatic beam of light of intensity I is incident on a glass plate

as shown in figure. Another identical glass plate is kept close to the first one &
parallel to it. Each glass plate reflects 25% of the light incident on it & transmits
the remaining. Find the ratio of the minimum & the maximum intensities in the
interference pattern formed by the two beams obtained after one reflection at
each plate.

24. Two coherent monochromatic sources A and B emit light of wavelength

.The distance between A and B is d = 4.
I.If a light detector is moved along a line CD parallel to AB, what is the
maximum number of minima observed?
II.If the detector is moved along a line BE perpendicular to AB and passing
through B, what is the number of maxima observed?

25. Two identical monochromatic light sources A and B intensity

10–15W/m2 produces wavelength of light 4000 3 Å. A glass of
thickness 3mm is placed in the path of the ray as shown in fig. The
glass has a variable refractive index n= 1  x where x (in mm) is
distance of plate from left to right. Calculate resultant intensity at focal point F of the lens.

26. One slit of a double slit experiment is covered by a thin glass plate of refractive index 1.4 and the
other by a thin glass plate of refractive index 1.7. The point on the screen, where central bright
fringe was formed before the introduction of the glass sheets, is now occupied by the 5th bright
fringe. Assuming that both the glass plates have same thickness and wavelength of light used is
4800 Å, find their thickness.

27. Three identical monochromatic point sources of light emit light of wavelength  coherently and in
phase with each other. They are placed on the x-axis at the points x = – d, 0 and d. find the
minimum value of d/ for which there is destructive interference with almost zero resultant
intensity at points on the x-axis having x > > d.

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28. Two parallel beams of light P & Q (separation d) each
containing radiations of wavelengths 4000 Å & 5000 Å (which
are mutually coherent in each wavelength separately) are
incident normally on a prism as shown in figure. The refractive
index of the prism as a function of wavelength is given by the
b
relation,  ( )  1.20  2 , where  is in Å & b is a positive

constant. The value of b is such that the condition for total
reflection at the face AC is just satisfied for one wavelength & is not satisfied for the other, find
the value of b. A convergent lens is used to bring these transmitted beams into focus. If the
intensities of the upper & the lower beams immediately after transmission from the face AC are 4I
& I respectively, find the resultant intensity at the focus.

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 EXERCISE - V
WINDOWS TO JEE
1. In an interference arrangement similar to Young's double- slit experiment, the slits S1 & S2 are
illuminated with coherent microwave sources, each of frequency 106 Hz. The sources are
synchronized to have zero phase difference.The lits are separated by a distance d = 150.0
m . The intensity I() is measured as a function of , where  is defined as shown . If I0 is the
maximum intensity then I() for 0  90º is given by : [JEE '95 M]

I0 I0
(A) I() = for  = 30º (B) I() = for  = 90º
2 4
(C) I() = I0 for  = 0º (D) I() is constant for all values of  .

2. In YDSE the separation between slits is 2 × 103 m where as the distance of screen from the
plane of slits is 2.5 m . A light of wavelengths in the range 2000 - 8000 Å is allowed to fall on
the slits . Find the wavelength in the visible region that will have maximum intensity on the
screen at 10-3 m from the central maxima. Also find the wavelengths that will have maximum
intensity at that point of screen in the infra - red as well in the ultra-violet region. [REE '96]

3. A coherent parallel beam of microwaves of wavelength  = 0.5 mm falls on a Young's double

slit apparatus. The separation between the slits is 1.0 mm. The intensity of microwaves is
measured on screen placed parallel to the plane of the slits at a distance of 1.0 m from it, as

shown in the figure. [JEE '98]

(a)If the incident beam falls normally on the double slit apparatus, find the y - coordinates of
all the interference minima on the screen .
(b)If the incident beam makes an angle of 30º with the x - axis (as in the dotted arrow shown
in the figure), find the y - coordinates of the first minima on either side of the central maximum.

4. In a Young's double slit arrangement, a source of wavelength 6000 Å is used. The screen is
placed 1 m from the slits . Fringes formed on the screen, are observed by a student sitting
close to the slits. The student's eye can distinguish two neighbouring fringes if they subtend
an angle more than 1 minute of arc. Calculate the maximum distance between the slits so that
the fringes are clearly visible. Using this information calculate the position of 3rd bright & 5th
dark fringe from the centre of the screen. [REE '98]

5. In a double slit experiment, instead of taking slits of equal widths, one slit is made twice as
wide as the other. Then, in the interference pattern [JEE '(Scr.) 2000, S]
(A) the intensities of both the maxima and the minima increase.
(B) the intensity of the maxima increases and the minima has zero intensity.
(C) the intensity of the maxima decreases and that of the minima increases.
(D) the intensity of the maxima decreases and the minima has zero intensity.
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6. 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 /2 at point A and  at point B. Then the difference
between the resultant intensities at A and B is [JEE (Scr.) 2001, S]
(A) 2I (B) 4I (C) 5I (D) 7I

7. In a young double slit experiment, 12 fringes are observed to be formed in a certain segment
of the screen when light of wavelength 600 nm is used. If the wavelength of light is changed
to 400 nm, number of fringes observed in the same segment of the screen is given by
[JEE (Scr.) 2001, S]
(A) 12 (B) 18 (C) 24 (D) 30

8. A vessel ABCD of 10 cm width has two small slits S1 and S2 sealed with
identical glass plates of equal thickness. The distance between the
slits is 0.8 mm. POQ is the line perpendicular to the plane AB and
passing through O, the middle point of S1 and S2. A monochromatic
light source is kept at S, 40 cm below P and 2 m from the vessel, to
illuminate the slits as shown in the figure below. Calculate the position of the central bright
fringe on the other wall CD with respect to the line OQ. Now, a liquid is poured into the vessel
and filled up to OQ. The central bright fringe is found to be at Q. Calculate the refractive
index of the liquid. [JEE'2001]

9. In a YDSE bi-chromatic light of wavelengths 400 nm and 560 nm are used. The distance
between the slits is 0.1 mm and the distance between the plane of the slits and the screen is
1m. The minimum distance between two successive regions of complete darkness is
[JEE (Scr) 2004, S]
(A) 4 mm (B) 5.6 mm (B) 14 mm (D) 28 mm

10. In a Young's double slit experiment, two wavelengths of 500 nm and 700 nm were used.
What is the minimum distance from the central maximum where their maximas coincide
again? Take D/d = 103. Symbols have their usual meanings. [JEE 2004]

11. In Young's double slit experiment maximum intensity is I than the angular position where the
I
intensity becomes is: [JEE (Scr) 2005 S]
4
         
(A) sin–1   (B) sin–1   (C) sin–1   (D) sin–1  
d  3d   2d   4d 

12. In Young’s double slit experiment an electron beam is used to form a fringe pattern instead of
light. If speed of the electrons is increased then the fringe width will :[JEE (Scr) 2005 S]
(A) increase (B) decrease
(C) remains same (D) no fringe pattern will be formed

13. A double - slit apparatus is immersed in a liquid of refractive index 1.33 . It has slit separation
of 1 mm & distance between the plane of the slits & screen is 1.33 m . The slits are illuminated
by a parallel beam of light whose wavelength in air is 6300 Å . [JEE 1996]
(a)Calculate the fringe width .
(b)One of the slits of the apparatus is covered by a thin glass sheet of refractive index 1.53 .
Find the smallest thickness of the sheet to bring the adjacent minima on the axis.
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14. In Young's experiment, the source is red light of wavelength 7 × 107 m . When a thin glass
plate of refractive index 1.5 at this wavelength is put in the path of one of the interfering
beams, the central bright fringe shifts by 10-3 m to the position previously occupied by the 5th
bright fringe . Find the thickness of the plate . When the source is now changed to green light
of wavelength 5 × 107 m, the central fringe shifts to a position initially occupied by the 6th
bright fringe due to red light . Find the refractive index of glass for the green light . Also
estimate the change in fringe width due to the change in wavelength . [JEE '97(I)]

15. In a Young's experiment, the upper slit is covered by a thin glass plate of refractive index 1.4
while the lower slit is covered by another glass plate having the same thickness as the first one
but having refractive index 1.7 . Interference pattern is observed using light of wavelength
5400 Å . It is found that the point P on the screen where the central maximum (n = 0) fell
before the glass plates were inserted now has 3/4 the original intensity . It is further observed
that what used to be the 5th maximum earlier, lies below the point P while the 6th minimum
lies above P. Calculate the thickness of the glass plate. (Absorption of light by glass plate may
be neglected) . [JEE '97 (II)]
16. A young’s double slit experiment is performed using light of wavelength  = 5000Å, which
emerges in phase from two slits a distance d = 3 ×10–7m apart. A transparent sheet of thickness
t = 1.5 ×10–7m is placed over one of the slits. The refractive index of the material of this sheet
is  = 1.17. Where does the central maximum of the interference pattern now appear?
[REE ’99]
17. As a wave propagates,
(A) the wave intensity remains constant for a plane wave
(B) the wave intensity decreases as the inverse of the distance from the source for a spherical wave
(C) the wave intensity decreases as the inverse square of the distance from the source for a
spherical wave
(D) total intensity of the spherical wave over the spherical surface centered at the source
remains same at all times. [JEE 99, M]
18. In a wave motion y = a sin(kx-t), y can represent [JEE 99, M]
(A) electric field (B) magnetic field (C) displacement (D) pressure

19. The Young's double slit experiment is done in a medium of refractive index 4/3. A light of
600 nm wavelength is falling on the slits having 0.45 mm separation. The lower slit S2 is
covered by a thin glass sheet of thickness 10.4 m and refractive index 1.5. The interference
pattern is observed on a screen placed 1.5 m from the slits as shown [JEE'99]

(a)Find the location of the central maximum (bright fringe with zero path difference) on the y-
axis.
(b)Find the light intensity at point O relative to the maximum fringe intensity.
(c) Now, if 600 nm light is replaced by white light of range 400 to 700 nm, find the wavelengths
of the light that form maxima exactly at point O .
[All wavelengths in this problem are for the given medium of refractive index 4/3. Ignore
dispersion]

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20. A thin slice is cut out of a glass cylinder along a plane parallel to its axis. The
slice is placed on a flat glass plate as shown. The observed interference
fringes from this combination shall be [JEE 1999, S]
(A) straight (B) circular
(C) equally spaced (D) having fringe spacing which increases as we go outwards.

21. A glass plate of refractive index 1.5 is coated with a thin layer of thickness t and refractive
index 1.8. Light of wavelength  travelling in air is incident normally on the layer . It is partly
reflected at the upper and the lower surfaces of the layer and the two reflected rays interfere.
Write the condition for their constructive interference. If  = 648 nm, obtain the least value of
t for which the rays interfere constructively. [JEE 2000]

22. Two coherent light sources A and B with separation 2  are placed on the x - axis symmetrically
about the origin. They emit light of wavelength . Obtain the positions of maxima on a circle
of large radius lying in the xy-plane and with centre at the origin. [REE '2000]

23. A point source S emitting light of wavelength 600 nm is placed at a very

small height h above the flat reflecting surface AB (see figure). The intensity
of the reflected light is 36% of the incident intensity. Interference fringes are
observed on a screen placed parallel to the reflecting surface at a
very large distance D from it. [JEE'2002]
(a)What is the shape of the interference fringes on the screen?
(b)Calculate the ratio of the minimum to the maximum intensities in the interference fringes
formed near the point P (shown in the figure).
(c) If the intensities at point P corresponds to a maximum, calculate the minimum distance
through which the reflecting surface AB should be shifted so that the intensity at P again
becomes maximum.
24. In the adjacent diagram, CP represents a wavefront and AO and BP, the corresponding two
rays. Find the condition on q for constructive interference at P between the ray BP and reflected
ray OP. [JEE (Scr.) 2003, S]
3 
(A) cos = 2 d (B) cos = 4 d

 4
(C) sec – cos = (D) sec – cos =
d d

25. A prism (P = 3 ) has an angle of prism A = 30°. A thin film (f = 2.2) is coated on
face AC as shown in the figure. Light of wavelength 550 nm is incident on
the face AB at 60° angle of incidence. Find [JEE' 2003]
(i)the angle of its emergence from the face AC and
(ii)the minimum thickness (in nm) of the film for which the emerging
light is of maximum possible intensity.

26. Monochromatic light of wavelenght 400 nm and 560 nm aer incident simultaneously and
normally on double slits apparatus whose slits separation is 0.1 mm and screen distance is
1m. Distanec between areas of total darkeness will be [JEE 2004, S]
(a) 4 mm (b) 5.6 mm (c) 14 mm (d) 28mm
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27. In Young’s double slit experiment intensity at a point is (1/4) of the maxiumum intensity.
Angular position of this point is [JEE 2005, S]
(a) sin-1   / d  (b) sin 1   / 2d  (c) sin 1   / 3d  (d) sin 1   / 4d 

28. In a young’s double silt experiment, the separation between the two slits is d and the
wavelenght of the light is  . The intensity of light falling on slit 1 is four times the intensity of
light falling on slit 2. Choose the correct choice (s). [JEE 2008, M]
(a) If d =  , the screen will contain only one maximum
(b) if  < d < 2  , at least one more maximum (besides the central maximum) will be
observed on the screen
(c) If the intensity of light falling on slit 1 is reduced so that it becomes equalt to that of slit 1 is
reduced so that it becomes equal to that of slit 2, the intensities of the observed dark and
bright fringes will increase
(d) If the intensity of ligth falling on slit 2 is increased so that it becomes equal to that of slit 1,
the intensitites of the observed dark and bright fringes will increase

29. Column - I shows four situatins of standard Young’s doubel slit arrangement with the screen
placed far away from the slits S1 and S2. In each of these case S1P0 = S2P0, S1P1 - S2P1 =  /4
and S1P2 - S2P2 =  /3, where  is the wavelength of the light used. In the case B, C and D,
a tansparent sheet of refractive index  and thickness t is pasted on slits S2. The thicknesses
of the sheets aer different in different cases. The phase difference between the light wave
reahing a point P on the screen from the two slits is denoted by  (P) and the intensity by
I(P). Match each situation given in Column - I with the statement(s) in Column - II valid for the
situation. [2009]
Column - I Column - II
P2
S2
(A) P1 (p)  (P0) = 0
P0
S1
P2
S2
P1
(B)    1 t   / 4 P0 (q)   P1   0
S1

P2
S2
P1
(C)    1 t   / 2 P0 (r) I (P1) = 0
S1

S2
P1
(D)    1 t  3 4 P0 (s) I(Po) > I (P1)
S1

(t) I(P2) > I (P1)

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30. Young’s double slit experiment is carrired out by using green, red and blue light, one color at
a time. The fringe widths recorded are G , R and B , respectively. Then, [JEE 2012, S]
(A) G  B  R (B) B  G  R (C) R  B  G (D) R  G  B

31. In the Young’s double slit experiment using a monochromatic light of wavelength , the path
difference (in terms of an integer n) corresponding to any point having half the peak intensity
is [JEE 2013, S ]
   
(A) (2n  1) (B) (2n  1) (C) (2n  1) (D) (2n  1)
2 4 8 16

32. A light source, which emits two wavelengths 1  400 nm and  2  600 nm , is used in a Young’s
double slit experiment. If recorded fringe widths for 1 and  2 aree 1 and  2 and the number
of fringes for them within a distance y on one side of the central maximum are m1 and m2,
respectively, then [JEE 2014, M]
(A) 2  1 (B) m1  m 2
(C) From the central maximum, 3rd maximum of  2 overlaps with 5th minimum of 1
(D) The angular seperation of fringes for 1 is greater than  2

33. A Young’s double slit interference arrangement with slits S1 and S2 is immersed in water
(refractive index = 4/3) as shown in the figure. The positions of maxima on the surface of
water are given by x2 =  – where  is the wavelength of light in air (refractive index
= 1), 2d is the separation between the slits and is an integer. The value of p is
[JEE 2015,I]

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34. While conducting the Young’s double slit experiment, a student replaced the two slits with a
large opaque plate in the x-y plane containing two small holes that act as two coherent point
sources (S1, S2) emitting light of wavelength 600 nm. The student mistakenly placed the screen
parallel to the x-z plane (for z > 0) at a distance D = 3 m from the mid-point of S1S2, as shown
schematically in the figure. The distance between the sources d = 0.6003 mm. The origin O
is at the intersection of the screen and the line joining S1S2. Which of the following is (are) true
of the intensity pattern on the screen? [JEE 2016, M]

(A) Hyperbolic bright and dark bands with foci symmetrically placed about O in the x-direction
(B) Semi circular bright and dark bands centered at point O
(C) Straight bright and dark bands parallel to the x-axis
(D) The region very close to the point O will be dark

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 ANSWER KEY

EXERCISE - I (Single choice)

1. A 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. C 6. B 7. B

8. C 9. A 10. D 11. C 12. A 13. A 14. A

15. C 16. C 17. C 18. C 19. D 20. A 21. D

22. C 23. D 24. A 25. D 26. B 27. A 28. C

29. A 30. B 31. A 32. C

Exercise - II (One or more than one option may be correct )

1. A,C 2. A,C 3. B,C,D 4. B,C 5. B

6. B 7. A,C,D 8. A,D 9. A,C 10. B,C
11. A 12. A

Exercise - III
Comprehensive

Passage # 1 1.b 2.a,b,d 3.b, d

Passage # 2 4.a 5.b 6. d 7.d

Assertion and Reason

8. A 9. B 10. D 11. B 12. B 13. B

14. A- r,s B –q C-s D-p,r

15. A- q B- r C- p,q D- q
16 A- q B- q C- p D- r,s

Exercise - IV ( Subjective Type)

1. 0.225 mm 2.18 3.1.98 × 10–2 mm 4.5000Å 5.0.2mm 6.35.35 cm

d 2  1   d 2  1   D
7. 6000 Å 8.(i)      (ii)       ; Dmin  2d
  D  D  
n D '
9. X - coordinate = , Where D ' = D  Mg / K (1 – coswt)
d
10. (a) tB = 120 m (b)  = 6mm; Imax = 9I, Imin = I (c) /6 = 1mm
(d) I (at 5cm above 0) = 9I, I (at 5 cm below 0) = 3I

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11. (i) 280 m, (ii) 560 m 12. (i) d= 1 mm (ii) increase

2(   1)t
13. 2 14. 81 : 1 15. 16.15 mm

 2n  1  1  2n  1 
17.  cos 1   , n  0,1, 2,3 &   cos   , n  0,1, 2,3
 8   8 

Vx   (   1)t 
18. 1.5mm 19. 20. (a) I0  Isec 2   (b) 4 mm
D  

21. = 600 nm, t = 24 m

22. (i) I/3, (ii) I/9, (iii) 0.6 mm, (iv) 0.2mm downwards , (v) 8mm down, (vi) I

23. 49:1 24. (i) 8 (ii) 4 25. 4  10 15 W / m 2

26. 8 m 27. 1/3 28. 2

8  105 A

EXERCISE - V (WINDOW TO JEE ADVANCED)

8000 1 3
1 Å, Å, Å, Å ± ,±
3 15 7

1 3 6.48  
(b) + , ; mm , mm
15 7  3.6 2.4

8 (i) y = 2 cm, (ii) m = 1.0016 9.D 10. 3.5 mm 11.B 12. B

400
13. 0.63 mm, 1.575 mm 14. 7 mm , 1.6 , mm (decrease) 15 . 9.3 mm
7

16 y = 0.085 D ; D = distance between screen & slits 17 A, C, D

18 A, B, C 19 (a) y = - 13/3 mm, (b) intensity at O = 0.75Imax (c) 650 nm, 433.33 nm

 3 
20. A 21 t = , , ...... ; tminimum = = 90 nm
7.2 7.2 7.2

R R 3 R R 3  R R 3  R R 3
22.(0, – R),  ,   , (R, 0),  ,  , (0, R)   ,  , ( – R, 0)   ,  
2 2  2 
 2 2   2 2   2

23 (a) circular, (b) 16, (c) 3000Å 24 B 25. 0, 125 nm 26. D

27. C 28. (A, B) 29. A - p,s; B - q; C -t; D- r, s, t

30. (D) 31. (B) 31. (ABC) 33. ( 3) 34. (BD)

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