Solution

WORKSHEET DAY-II (CH-10 WAVE OPTICS ) - BOARD EXAM REVISION

Class 12 - Physics
Section A
1.
(d) the fringe width remains the same but the pattern shifts
Explanation:
When a thin film of mica is inserted in the path of one beam, the entire fringe pattern shifts towards the side in which the film
is inserted.

2.
(c) 49

Explanation:
−−
−−
I1 25 5
Here amplitude ratio = √ I2
= √
4
=
2

2
Imax (5/2+1)
Thus, Imin
=
2
​​​​= (
7

3
)
2
=
49

9
5/2−1)

3.
(b) 1/3 times
Explanation:
1
β ∝
d

If d becomes thrice, then β becomes 1/3 times.

4.
(c) 2 : 1
Explanation:
In case of coherent sources, interference occurs. Intensity at the midpoint is
Imax = k(a + a)2 = k × 4a2
In case of incoherent sources, interference does not occur.
Intensity at the midpoint is
I = I1 + I2 = ka2 + ka2 = k × 2a2
Imax
∴
I
=
4

2
=2:1

5. (a) 4200 A
Explanation:
2λ1
2θ 1 =
a
2λ2
2 θ = 0.7 × 2 θ
2 1 =
a
∘

λ2 = 0.7 λ = 0.7 × 6000 A

1

= 4200 A
6.
(c) 3.4 ×10 m −4

Explanation:
Given, λ = 600nm = 600 × 10 −9
m

Now convert degrees to radian i.e.,

∘ 0.1π
θ = 0.1 = rad
180
−9
λ
Now, θ = λ

d
⇒ d = =
600×10

0.1π
× 180 = 3.44 × 10
−4
m
θ

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 7. (a) Frequency
Explanation:
Frequency
8.
(c) 2Dλ

Explanation:
Linear width of central maximum
= D × Angular width = D × = 2λ

a
2Dλ

9.
(d) 0.2 mm
Explanation:
−9
2×500×10
β =
Dλ

d
=
−3
m
5×10

= 0.2 × 10-3 m = 0.2 mm

10. (a) 9 I and I

Explanation:
9 I and I
Section B
11. The linear width of the central bright maximum is given by β = 0
2Dλ

i. If monochromatic yellow light is replaced with red light, the linear width of the central maximum increases because
λ
red
> λ
yellow
.
ii. If the distance (D) between the slit and the screen is increased, the linear width of the central maximum increases.
12. The principle of linear superposition of wave displacement is essential to our understanding of intensity distributions and
interference patterns. This is because superposition follows from the linear character of a differential equation that governs wave
motion. If y1 and y2 are the solutions of the second-order wave equation, then any linear combination of y1 and y2 will also be the
solution of the wave equation.
13. When two light waves from different coherent sources meet together, then the distribution of energy due to one wave is disturbed
by the other. This modification in the distribution of light energy due to super- position of two light waves is called Interference of
light.
Examples of the interference of light is demonstrated by the light reflected from a film of oil floating on water. The conditions for
the interference of light are as under:
i. Light source should be monochromatic.
ii. Both the waves should be of same frequency.

14.

Difference between interference and diffraction

Interference Diffraction

(i) It is due to the superposition of two waves (i) It is due to the superposition of secondary wavelets originating from
coming from two coherent sources. different parts of the same wavefront.

(ii) The width of the interference bands is equal. (ii) The width of the diffraction bands is not the same.

(iii) The intensity of central maximum is maximum and goes on decreasing

(iii) The intensity of all maxima (fringes) is same.
rapidly with increase in order of maxima.

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15. Two sources which produce waves of same frequency and the phase difference of produced waves does not change with time then
the sources are said to be coherent sources.
Dλ D c
β = = . [∵ c = νλ]
d d ν

a. Since β ∝ D ,
The fringe width β decreases when the distance D between the slits and screen is decreased.
b. Since β ∝ , 1

The fringe width β decreased if the frequency ν of the source is increased.

Section C
16. Consider that a plane wavefront AB is incident on a concave spherical mirror The lines LA, QO and MB (normals to the incident
wavefront AB at the points A, O and B) represent the incident rays.

Since the distance AX or BY is smaller than the distance OP, the disturbance will reach the points X and Y on the mirror earlier
than it reaches the point P. Therefore, the instant, when the disturbance reaches the point P, the secondary wavelets from the points
X and Y will grow into spheres of radii (OP - AX) and (OP - BY) respectively. At this instant, the point P on the mirror has just
become the source of secondary wavelet and therefore, the secondary wavelet originating from the point P will be of zero radius at
that instant.
To find the reflected wavefront (new position of the wavefront after reflection from the concave mirror); with the points X and Y
as centres, draw spheres of radii XA' = (OP - AX) and YB' = (OP - BY) respectively. Then, the sphere A'PB', the common
envelope of the secondary wavelets issuing out from the points X, P and Y gives the reflected wavefront and the normals A'L', PQ'
and B'M' to the reflected wavefront represent the reflected rays. It follows that a plane wavefront incident on a concave spherical
mirror is reflected as a converging spherical wavefront.
It, thus, explains that why a parallel beam of light on reflection from a concave mirror gets converged.
17. With two narrow slits, an interference pattern is obtained.
When one slit is completely covered, the diffraction pattern is obtained.
For intensity distribution curve for interference, see Fig.

For intensity distribution curve for diffraction, see Fig.

Interference Diffraction

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 1. All the bright fringes are of same intensity. Intensity of bright fringes decreases with the increasing order.

2. All the bright fringes are of equal width. Central bright fringe is twice as wide as any secondary bright fringe.

3. Regions of dark fringes are perfectly dark. Regions of dark fringes are not perfectly dark.

4. Maxima occur at θ = n λ

d
Minima occur at θ = n λ

18. a. Intensity distribution graph

b. Angular width
2λ
θ0 =
a

Angular width decreases

Intensity ∝ area ∴ intensity increases
intensity increases
(ii) When separation between slit and screen is decreased no effect on angular width while intensity increases.
Dλ
19. a. fringe width β = d

so as d increases β decrease so fringes will not be resolved and observable. (they do not appear separate)
b. Conditions:-
Two sources produce waves of same frequency.
Two sources produce waves of constant phase difference.
c. β = Dλ

so if λ changes by 1.5λ
β , fringe width increases, so more brighter will be the fringes.

20. Let XY be interface and c1 and c2 are velocity of light in rarer and denser medium respectively.

c1
then, μ = c2

μ is refractive index of medium 2 with respect to medium 1.

According to Huygens principle, every point of plane wavefront AB acts as a source of secondary wavelet. Let the secondary
wavelets from B strikes XY at A' in t seconds
BA' = c1 × t
Similarly from A secondary wavelet travels in denser medium with velocity c2
AB' = c2 × t
In △AA'B
′ C1 t
sin i = BA
′
= ′
AA AA

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 ′ C2 ×t
In △AA'B' sin r = AB

′
=
′
AA AA
sin i c1 n2

sin r
=
c2
= u =
n1
This proves snell's law of refraction.
Section D
21. Suppose S1 and S2 are two fine slits, a small distance d apart. They are illuminated by a strong source S of monochromatic light of
wavelength λ . MN is a screen at a distance D from the slits.

Consider a point P at a distance y from 0, the centre of the screen.

The path difference between two waves arriving at point Pis equal to S2P - S1P.

Now, (S2P)2 -(S1P)2

2 2
2 d 2 d
= [D + (y + ) ] − [D + (y − ) ] = 2yd
2 2

2yd
Thus, S 2P − S1 P =
S2 P + S1 P

But S 2
P + S1 P ≈ 2D
dy
∴ S2 P − S1 P ≈
D

a. For constructive interference (Bright fringes)

dy
Path difference = D
= nλ , where,
n = 0, 1, 2, 3,......
∴ y = [∵ n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ....]
nDλ

b. For destructive interference (Dark fringes)

dy
Path difference = D
= (2n − 1)
λ

The distribution of intensity in Young's double slit experiment is as shown below

22. The light on passing through the narrow slit undergoes diffraction. A diffraction pattern consisting of alternate bright and dark
bands is obtained on the screen.
i. Angular width of principal maximum,
2θ = 2λ

It is not affected when screen is moved away (D increases) from the slit plane.
ii. Now linear width x of the central maximum is given by
2λD
x= a

Thus if the screen is moved away the linear width of the central maximum will increase too.
Difference between interference and diffraction
i. In interference all the fringes will be of equal intensity but in diffraction the central maximum will have high intensity and in
the rest of the fringes intensity falls rapidly.
ii. In interference all the fringes will be of equal width but in diffraction the central maximum will have the highest width and for
the other fringes width will diminish fast.

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23. a. Law of Reflection: Let XY be a reflecting surface at which a wavefront is being incident obliquely. Let v be the speed of the
wavefront and at time t = 0, the wavefront touches the surface XY at A. After time t, the point B of wavefront reaches the
point B' of the surface. According to Huygens principle, each point of the wavefront acts as a source of secondary waves.
When point A of the wavefront strikes the reflecting surface, then due to the presence of the reflecting surface, it cannot
advance further; but the secondary wavelet originating from point A begins to spread in all directions in the first medium with
speed v. As the wavefront AB advances further, its points A1, A2, A3 K etc. strike the reflecting surface successively and send
spherical secondary wavelets in the first medium.

First of all the secondary wavelet starts from point A and traverses distance AA' (=vt) in the first medium in time t. In the
same time t, the point B of wavefront, after travelling a distance BB', reaches point B' (of the surface), from where the
secondary wavelet now starts. Now taking A as centre we draw a spherical arc of radius AA' (= vt) and draw tangent A' B' on
this arc from point B'. As the incident wavefront AB advances, the secondary wavelets start from points between A and B¢,
one after the other and will touch A' B' simultaneously. According to Huygens principle wavefront A' B' represents the new
position of AB, i.e., A' B' is the reflected wavefront corresponding to incident wavefront AB. Now in right-angled triangles
ABB' and AA' B'
∠ ABB' = ∠ AA'B' (both are equal to 90o)
side BB' = side AA' (both are equal to vt) and side AB' is common i.e., both triangles are congruent.
∴ ∠ BAB' = ∠ AB'A

i.e., incident wavefront AB and reflected wavefront A' B' make equal angles with the reflecting surface XY. As the rays are
always normal to the wavefront, therefore the incident and the reflected rays make equal angles with the normal drawn on the
surface XY, i.e., angle of incidence i = angle of reflection r
This is the second law of reflection. Since AB, A' B' and XY are all in the plane of paper, therefore the perpendiculars dropped
on them will also be in the same plane. Therefore we conclude that the incident ray, reflected ray and the normal at the point
of incidence, all lie in the same plane. This is the first law of reflection. Thus Huygens principle explains both the laws of
reflection.
b. i. If the radiation of a certain frequency interacts with the atoms/molecules of the matter, they start to vibrate with the same
frequency under forced oscillations. Thus, the frequency of the scattered light (Under reflection and refraction) equals to
the frequency of incident radiation.
ii. No, the energy carried by the wave depends on the amplitude of the wave, but not on the speed of the wave.
24. i. a. From the fringe width expression, we have
λD
β =
d
, therefore with the decrease in separation between two slits, ‘d’ the fringe width increases.
λ
b. For interference fringes to be seen, s

S
<
d
, condition should be satisfied otherwise, the interference patterns produced by
different parts of the source slit will overlap.
As, the source slit width increases, the fringe pattern gets less and less sharp. When the source slit is so wide, the above
condition does not satisfy and the interference pattern disappears. However, as long as the fringes are visible, the fringe
width remains constant.
c. When monochromatic light is replaced by white light, then coloured fringe pattern is obtained on the screen.
The interference pattern due to different colour component of white light overlap. The central bright fringes for different
colours are at the same position. Therefore, central fringes are white. And on the either side of the central fringe white
coloured bands will appear.
ii. Intensity at a point is given by
′ 2
I = 4I cos ϕ/2

where I' = intensity produced by each one of the individual sources.

At central maxima, ϕ = 0 ,
The intensity at the central maxima,
′
I0 = 4I

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 I0
I
′
=
4
..... (i)
As, path difference = λ

Phase difference, ϕ ′
=
2π

λ
× path difference
2π λ 2π
= × =
λ 3 3

Now, intensity at this point

′′ ′ 2 1 2π
I = 4I cos ( )
2 3

′ 2 π
= 4I cos
3

′ 1
= 4I ×
4

′
= I
I0
=
4
[from Eq. (i)]
Hence proved.

25. a. At the central points C(θ = 0o), the wavelets from the corresponding parts of the two halves LM and MN of the slit have zero
path difference i.e., they are in same phase. This gives maximum intensity at C.

The path difference between the extreme rays from L and N is

p = NP - LP = NQ = a sin θ = aθ [For small θ, sin θ = θ]
Let aθ = λ . Then the path difference between any two corresponding points M1 and M2 of the two halves of the slit will be p
aθ λ
= 2
=
2

This means the contributions from M1 and M2 are 180o out of phase and cancel in the direction θ = λ

a
. Contributions from the
two halves LM and MN cancel each other. Net intensity at P will be zero.
∴ θ= is the condition of first minimum.
λ

This is the half angular width of the central maximum.

Total angular width of central maximum = 2λ

a
2λD
Linear width of the central maximum on the screen at distance D = a
.
b. When size of aperture a >> λ , we can ignore diffraction effects. Then the light appears to travel in straight lines and ray optics
becomes valid. Since for the validity of ray optics a >> λ or λ << a or λ → 0, it implies that ray optics is a limiting case of
wave optics.

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