JAIPUR ENGINEERING COLLEGE AND

RESEARCH CENTRE
• Year & Sem – Ist Year , Ist Sem
• Subject – Engineering Physics
• Unit – Wave Optics
• Department- Applied Science (Physics)

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 VISION

To become a renowned institute of outcome

based learning and work towards academic,
professional, cultural and social enrichment of
the lives of individuals and communities.

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 MISSION
• Focus on valuation of learning outcomes and
motivate students to inculcate research aptitude by
project based learning.
• Identify based on informed perception of Indian,
regional and global needs, the areas of focus and
provide platform to gain knowledge and solutions.
• Offer opportunities for interaction between
academia and industry.
• Develop human potential to its fullest extent so that
intellectually capable and imaginatively gifted
leaders can emerge in a range of professions.

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 Syllabus & Course outcomes
• Syllabus:-
Wave Optics: Newton’s Rings, Michelson’s Interferometer,
Fraunhoffer Diffraction from a Single Slit. Diffraction grating:
Construction, theory and spectrum, Resolving power and
Rayleigh criterion for limit of resolution, Resolving power of
diffraction grating, X-Ray diffraction and Bragg’s Law.

• Course outcomes :-
CO1:- Students will be able to explain the basic concepts,
theoretical principles and practical applications of interference,
diffraction phenomena and their related optical devices in
visible range and X-ray diffraction by crystals (i.e., Bragg’s
law).

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 CONTENTS
Part :- 1
1. Introduction and Basic Concepts of Interference of light
2. Formation & experimental arrangement of Newton's rings.
3. Diameter of Dark & Bright Newton's rings in reflected and
transmitted light
4. Applications of Newton's rings
5. Construction and working of Michelson’s Interferometer
6. Applications of Michelson’s Interferometer
7. Numerical Problems
8. Lecture contents with a blend of NPTEL contents
9. References/Bibliography

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 Lecture Plan
S. Lectures Lect.
Topics
No required No.

1
Introduction 1 1

2 Newton’s Rings:-, Theory, diagram and

1 2
formation of circular rings.
3 Newton’s Rings:- Mathematical
1 3
derivation for wavelength of light.
4 Michelson’s interferometer: Construction,
1 4
working and application..

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S. Lectures Lect.
Topics
No required No.

Fraunhoffer diffraction, Single Slit:-

5 1 5
formulation of resultant Intensity.
Diffraction Grating:- theory, construction
6 1 6
and spectrum.
Resolving Power & Rayleigh criterion for
7 1 7
limit of resolution.

8 Resolving power of diffraction grating 1 8

9 X-ray diffraction & Bragg’s law. 1 9

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 Introduction
▪ Physics is the branch of science that deals with the nature and natural
phenomena . eg. Formations of days and night , formation of seasons .....
▪ Types : Quantum Physics – Sir Isaac Newton
Modern Physics -- Albert Einstein
Optics is the study of light and its associated phenomenon like
interference, diffraction and polarization etc.
▪ Light is an electromagnetic wave radiation(strong evidence of
polarization).
▪ Study of light having two approaches:
▪ 1. Wave approach.
▪ 2. Particle approach (Photon concept of light)
▪ Using wave approach :Interference, Diffraction and polarization
phenomena explained.
▪ Using particle approach :Photoelectric effect, Compton effect, Raman
effect, LASERS etc. explained.

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Wave optics

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 Interference of Light
• When a single wave from a single source of light travels in a
medium the intensity of light is distributed uniformly in space.
But when the two or more waves of same frequency, same
wavelength, nearly same amplitude and having a constant or
zero phase difference between them , the intensity of light is
not distributed uniformly in space . This non uniform
distribution of light intensity due to superposition of two or
more waves is called interference of light.

• At some points the intensity is found maximum and is called

constructive interference and at some points the intensity is
found minimum and it is called destructive interference.

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 Types of Interference
Interference of light is of two type:-
(1) Constructive Interference:- when two waves superimpose
in same phase and phase difference between them is zero or an
integral multiple of 2π, the amplitude and intensity of the
resultant light are maximum. This type of interference is called
constructive interference.

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(2) Destructive Interference:- when two waves superimpose in
opposite phase and phase difference between them is 1800 or odd
multiple of π, the amplitude and intensity of the resultant light
are minimum. This type of interference is called destructive
interference.

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 Coherent Sources

Two source of light are said to be coherent if

they emit light of same frequency, same
amplitude and with constant phase difference
between the light emitted.
The two coherent sources can be created by:-
(1) By the Division of Amplitude
(2) By the Division of wavefront

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(1) By the Division of Amplitude:- In this method amplitude of
incident waves is divided in two or more parts by partial
reflection or refraction . These two wave of light beam act as a
coherent sources. These two beams. When reunite, produce
interference fringes. This method can be used in Newton’s ring
experiment and Michelson Interferometer experiment.

(2) By the division of wavefront:- In this method, the wavefront

from a single monochromatic source is divided either into two
parts. This can be achieved by the phenomenon of reflection,
refraction or differection. These two part of incident wavefront
can be treated as the wavefronts originating by two vertual
coherent sources. In Young’s double slit experiment and
Fresnel’s biprism experiments, we use this method to produce
virtual coherent sources.

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Interference in thin film

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• Let us consider a thin film of thickness t and refractive
index µ.
• A ray of monochromatic light AB is incident with incident
angle i on upper surface PQ at point B.
• At point B the ray is divided into two parts, one is partially
reflected along BR1 and the other partially refracted along
BC.
• At point C again it is divided into two parts, one is
transmitted along CT1 and other is reflected along CD.
• Similarly reflection and refraction take place at D, E etc.
• The set of parallel rays BR1 and DR2 and transmitted rays
CT1 ET2 are obtained which produce interference in
reflected light and transmitted light respectively.

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• As ray BR1 is reflected from the surface of an
optically denser medium, a phase change of
πoccurs.
• But, DR2 is reflected at the surface of a rarer
medium, so there is no phase change.
Hence the effective path difference is:-

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 Newton’s Rings
• Optical device by which a series of alternate dark &
bright circular rings are obtained though interference
of light reflected from top & bottom layers of
wedged shaped very thin film of air or some other
transparent medium enclosed between glass plate
and lens. This localized phenomenon is observed by
travelling microscope.
• Also known as fringes of equal thickness (Fizeau
fringes)
• Newton's Rings are very useful to check the plane
ness of the glass surface in glass industries.
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Experimental Setup of Newton’s Rings

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 Newton’s Rings

Newton’s rings is a phenomenon

in which an interference pattern
is created by the Newton's rings
reflection of light between two
surfaces; a spherical surface and
an adjacent touching flat
surface. It is named after Isaac
Newton, who investigate the
effect in his 1704 treatise Optics.

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 Principle of Newton’s Rings

• It works on the principle of by the way of division

of Amplitude .

• In this the coming amplitude of light wave is

divided into two or more parts by partial
reflection or refraction and there by giving rise to
two or more coherent beams .

• These beams superimpose to produce

interference effects.

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 Working of Newton’s Rings
• When a plano-convex lens of large radius of curvature
is placed with its convex surface in contact with a
plane glass plate , an air film is formed between the
convex lens and a glass plate.
• The thickness of the air film at the point of contact is
zero.
• When a sodium light is incident on such a system ,
light waves reflect from the top and bottom surfaces of
the air film and when this air film is viewed in
reflected light , alternate bright and dark rings are
seen around the point of contact. These circular rings
are called Newton’s rings.
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• These rings are circular as the locus of
points of equal thickness of air film is a circle
Newton’s ring are the examples of
interferences fringes of equal thickness.
Since the thickness of air film remains
constant along a circle with its centre at the
point of contact , fringes are in the form of
concentric circles.
• These rings were first discovered by Newton,
so they are called Newton’s rings.
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 Experimental Arrangement
1. A plano-convex lens P of
large focal length is placed
on a plane glass plate O.
2. S is a Monochromatic light
Source.
3. L is a another lens, placed in
front of source. It is
converting the light rays into
horizontal plane.
4. Glass plate G is inclined at
450 to the horizontal plane.
5. “M” is a travelling
Microscope.
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 Determine the thickness of air film

1. Let R be the radius of

curvature of the lens with its
centre C suppose.

2. Let tn be the thickness of air

film at a point P’ .

3. AP’ is the radius of Newton’s

ring at tn thickness of air film
is rn .
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 By Pythagoras theorem-

R2 = (CA)2 + rn2
but CA = (R - tn )
R2 = (R - tn )2 + rn2
R2 = R2 + tn 2 - 2R tn + r n2
tn 2 - 2R tn + rn2 = 0
r n2 = tn 2 - 2R tn
Since tn << R So tn 2 <<< 2R tn

tn = rn2 / 2R
Which gives the thickness of air film corresponding to the
Newton’s ring of radius rn
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 Newton’s Ring in reflected Light

In reflected system,
the path difference
between the reflected
rays is given by-

Δ = 2 µt cosr + λ/2

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Condition for Maxima (Bright Fringes)

For nth order bright fringes (Maxima)

Δ = 2 µtn cosr + λ/2 = nλ where n = 1,2,3…

2 µtn cosr = (2n - 1) λ / 2 where n = 1,2,3…
for normal incidence r 0; cosr ≈ 1; for air µ = 1
2 tn = (2n - 1) λ / 2
Bright ring of any particular order (n) will occur at a particular
thickness (tn ), which remains constant along a circle with its centre
at the point by contact, so the rings are circular in shape.

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When n = 1, D1 = √1
n = 2, D2 = √3
n = 3, D3 = √5 …. So on

Therefore
D1 : D2 : D3 = √1 : √3 : √5 ….

So the diameter of bright rings in reflected system, are

proportional to square root of odd natural numbers.

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Condition for Minima (Dark Fringes)

For nth order dark fringes (Minima)

Δ = 2 µtn cosr + λ/2 = (2n - 1) λ/2 where n = 1,2,3…

2 µtn cosr = nλ where n = 1,2,3…
for normal incidence r = 0; cos r ≈ 1; for air µ = 1
2 tn = (2n - 1) λ / 2

Dark ring of any particular order (n) will occur at a particular

thickness (tn), which remains constant along a circle with its centre at
the point by contact, so the rings are circular in shape.

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 At point of contact fringes is dark and point fringe and is center of concentric
ring. Diameter of nth dark fringe is
D’n α 2r ’n = [ 4nλR]1/2
D’n α √n
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When n = 1, D1 = √1
n = 2, D2 = √2
n = 3, D3 = √3 …. So on

Therefore
D1 : D2 : D3 = √1 : √2 : √3 ….

So the diameter of dark rings in reflected system, are

proportional to square root of natural numbers.

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 Newton’s Ring in Transmitted Light

When a light ray AB falls normally on the glass plate at C it is

partly transmitted along CT1 and partly reflected along CD.
Similarly reflection and refraction occurs at D. Thus we get a
set of parallel transmitted ray T1 and T2 . The path difference
between these two rays for normal incidence is nearly-

Δ = 2µt (for air µ = 1)

Δ = 2t
where t is thickness of air film at a point C

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The condition of maxima and minima in the reflected light
are just reverse to those in transmitted light.
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 Applications of Newton’s Ring
Determination of wavelength of Sodium Light:

The diameter of nth order ring is given by-

Dn = [ 4nλR]1/2
Dn2 = 4nλR …………….1
Similarly diameter of (n+p)th order ring is given by-
Dn+p2 = 4(n+p)λR …………….2
By subtraction of equation 1 from equation 2, we get-
Dn+p2 - Dn2 = 4(n+p)λR - 4nλR

λ = Dn+p2 - Dn2

4pR

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 Numerical Problems
1. In Newton’s ring experiment the diameter of nth and (n+14)th ring are 4.2
mm and 7 mm. If the radius of curvature of lens is 1 m then find the
wavelength of light used. (Ans. 5600Å)

2. Newton’s rings are observed in reflected light of wavelength 5.9×10-5 cm.

The diameter of the 10th dark ring is 0.50 cm. Find the radius of curvature
of lens & thickness of air film at the ring.
(Ans. R=106 cm. & t= 3×10-4 cm)

1. In Newton’s ring experiment the diameter of 15th ring and 5th ring are .590
cm and 0336 cm. If the radius of curvature of lens is 100 cm then find the
wavelength of light used.
(Ans. 5880Å)

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Construction and Working

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Formation of Circular fringes

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Formation of straight line and curved fringes

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 Numericals
• Light containing two wavelengths λ1 & λ2 falls normally on a plano
convex lens of radius of curvature R resting on a glass plate. If the
nth dark ring due to λ1 coincides with the (n+1)th dark ring due to λ2.
Find the radius of nth dark ring due to λ1.

• Michelson interferometer experiment is performed with a source

which has two wavelengths 4882Å and 4886Å. By what distance
does the mirror have to be moved between two positions of
disappearance of fringes? (Ans. .00596mm)

• In Newton’s ring experiment the diameter of nth and (n+1)th ring are
4.2 mm and 5 mm. If the radius of curvature of lens is 3 m then find
the wavelength of light used. ( Ans. 6133Å )

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Lecture contents with a blend of NPTEL
contents and other plateforms
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtsqsdkjr7g by
Prof. G.D. Verma, IIT Roorkee.
• https://nptel.ac.in/courses/115/105/115105120/ by
Prof. A. K. Das, IIT Kharagpur.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFSniycjqyY by
Prof. G. S. Raghuvanshi, JIET Jodhpur.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Cn6jAMa-A
by Prof. G. S. Raghuvanshi , JIET Jodhpur.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n65gZGwiZtk by
Prof. M. K. Srivastava, IIT Roorkee.

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 References and Bibliography

• Optics by Ajoy Ghatak, Tata McGraw Hill,

New Delhi
• Fundamental of Optics by Jetkins and White,
Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi
• Engineering Physics by Prof. Y. C. Bhatt,
Ashirwad Publications
• Optics by Subhramanium and Brij lal, S.
Chand Publications.

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Thank You

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