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Interference 04

The document discusses thin-film interference and Newton's rings, explaining how light waves reflect and interfere to create color bands and circular fringes. It details the conditions for constructive and destructive interference for both reflected and transmitted light. Additionally, it outlines the applications of Newton's rings in determining the wavelength of light, the radius of curvature of a lens, and the refractive index of a liquid.

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kabbow28
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2 views

Interference 04

The document discusses thin-film interference and Newton's rings, explaining how light waves reflect and interfere to create color bands and circular fringes. It details the conditions for constructive and destructive interference for both reflected and transmitted light. Additionally, it outlines the applications of Newton's rings in determining the wavelength of light, the radius of curvature of a lens, and the refractive index of a liquid.

Uploaded by

kabbow28
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Optics

 Thin-Film Interference
 Newton’s Rings
 Application of Newton’s Rings

1
Optics
Thin-Film Interference
When light is incident on a thin transparent film, the light waves
reflected from the upper and lower surfaces interfere and
produce a color bands.
 Bright bands of color are seen, when light reflects from a thin
layer of oil floating on water or from a soap bubble
In case of thin film, interference may takes place due to
(i) Reflected light (ii) Transmitted light
If the light incident at an interface between media with different
indexes of refraction is in the medium with the smaller index of
refraction, the reflection causes a phase change of π rad, or half
a wavelength, in the reflected wave. Otherwise, there is no phase
change due to the reflection. Refraction causes no phase shift.2
Optics
Reflected light
Condition for constructive interference
𝜆𝑛
Path difference= (2𝑚 + 1) 2
𝜆
Or, Path difference= (2𝑚 + 1) 2𝑛
Condition for destructive interference
Path difference= 𝑚𝜆𝑛
𝜆
Or, Path difference= 𝑚 𝑛; 𝑚 = 0,1,2, …
Transmitted light
Condition for constructive interference
𝜆
Path difference= 𝑚 𝑛; 𝑚 = 0,1,2, …
Condition for destructive interference
𝜆
Path difference= (2𝑚 + 1) 2𝑛
3
Optics
Newton’s Rings
When a plano-convex lens of large radius of curvature is placed
on a plane glass plate, a air thin film of variable thickness is
formed between the lower surface of the lens and the upper
surface of the glass plate(Fig.1). When the arrangement is
viewed with monochromatic light from above a pattern of bright
and dark rings is observed as shown in (Fig.2). These circular
fringes of concentric circles, discovered by Newton, are called
Newton’s rings.

Lens
Air Thin Film
Glass plate
Fig. 1: A convex lens in contact
with a glass plane Fig. 2: Circular fringes 4
Optics
Experimental set up to observe Newton’s rings

Fig. 3

S is a source of monochromatic light at the focus of the lens L,


(Fig.3). A horizontal beam of light falls on the glass plate B at
45°. The glass plate B reflects a part of the incident light
towards the air film enclosed by the lens L and the plane glass
plate G. 5
Optics
The reflected beam from the air film is viewed with a
microscope. Interference takes place and dark and bright circular
fringes are produced.
This is due to the interference between the light reflected from the
lower surface of the lens and the upper surface of the glass plate
G.

It is observed that the fringe width decreases as the no. of order


increases and the fringes got closer with increase in their order.
6
Optics
Application of Newton’s Rings
Newton’s Rings can be used to determine
 The wavelength of a light
 Radius of curvature of a plano-convex lens
 Refractive index of a liquid

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