1

+Chapter 10

Wave Optics
Wavefront: It is the locus of (collection of) all points in a medium which are vibrating in the
same phase.

Which are the three types of wave fronts?

The three types of wavefronts are:

(a)Spherical wavefront

(b) Cylindrical wavefront

(c)Plane wavefront

A wavefront is the locus of all the points in space which receive light waves from a source in
phase.

(a) If the source of light is a point source and the medium is homogeneous and isotropic,
the wavefront will be spherical in shape. However, at very large distance from the point
source, the shape of the wavefront changes from spherical to a plane wavefront.

: Shape of the wavefront may also change due to its passage through a refracting
medium such as a lens.
: A wavefront is always normal to the light rays.
: A wavefront does not propagate in the backward direction.

1
 2

(b)Cylindrical wavefront. When the source of light is linear in shape, cylindrical wavefront is
formed.

(c) Plane wavefront. A small part of a spherical or cylindrical wavefront originating from a
distant source can be considered as a plane wavefront. Or (If the source is at infinity,
the wave front is planar.)

Q. Draw the diagrams to show the behaviour of plane wavefronts as they (a) pass through a
thin prism , and (b) pass through a thin convex lens and (c) reflect by a concave mirror.

Notes

Light travel in a medium in the form of wavefront.

1
Amplitude (a) is inversely proportional to distance (x) i.e., a ∝ 𝑥.

∴ Intensity (I) ∝ (Amplitude)2

2
 3

Huygen’s Principle

Huygen’s Principle is used To determine the position of the wavefront at a later time if the
present position of the wavefront is known .

(BQ) statement:

According to Huygens principle each point of the primary wavefront acts

as a source sending out secondary wavelets. Secondary wavelets travel
with the same velocity as the original wave (primary wave). A tangential
surface to all the secondary wavelets form the secondary wavefront. The
amplitude of secondary wavelets is maximum in the forward direction and
zero in the backward direction.

Q: Using Huygen’s principle ,draw a diagram to show the position of a wavefront

originating from a monochromatic point source

Consider a point source of light. Let AB be the section of the wavefront at time t= 0

To find the position of the wavefront at time t using Huygens principle.

Let v be the velocity of light in the given medium.

(i) Each point on a given primary wavefront AB acts as a source of secondary wavelets,
sending out disturbances (waves) in all directions in a similar manner as the original source
of light does.

At time t ; radius of secondary wavelets = vt

Take each point as centre and draw circle of radius r= vt .

(ii) The new position of the wavefront at any instant (secondary wavefront) is given by the
forward envelope to the secondary wavelets at that instant.

The tangent A1B1 gives the next wavefront

3
 4

Q . Using Huygen’s constructions draw a figure showing the propagation of a plane wave
refracting at a plane surface separating two media.Hence verify Snell’s law of refraction.

REFRACTION ON THE BASIS OF WAVE THEORY (HUYGENS PRINCIPLE)

(RARER TO DENSER) (REFRACTION AT A RARER MEDIUM )

PP’ is a plane refracting surface . Light enters from rarer medium with velocity v1 to
a denser medium with velocity v2.
AB = incident wavefront
By Huygens principle

Let the secondary wavefront from B strike PP’ at C in t seconds

4
 5

BC = v1 t
Similarly secondary wavelets from A travels in the denser medium and reaches E in
the same time
AE = v2 t
Tangent at E and C gives refracted wavefront
𝐵𝐶 𝑣1 𝑡
sin 𝑖 = = − − − −(1)
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝑨𝑬 𝑣2 𝒕
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒓 = = − − − −(𝟐)
𝑨𝑪 𝑨𝑪
sin 𝑖 𝑣
= 𝑣1 = 𝑛21 This is the Snell’s law of refraction
sin 𝑟 2
(First law of refraction)
Also incident ray, normal and refracted ray all lie in the same plane.
𝑐
𝑐 𝑐 𝑛2 𝑣2 𝑛 𝑣
(𝑛1 = 𝑣1
, 𝑛2 = ,
𝑣2 𝑛1
= ⁄𝑐 , 𝑛2 = 𝑣1)
1 2
𝑣1

NOTE

If refraction is from denser to rarer medium (derivation as above)

Q . How is wavefront defined? Using Huygen’s construction draw a figure showing

the propagation of a plane wave reflecting at the interface of the two media. Show
that the angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
REFLECTION ON THE BASIS OF WAVE THEORY (REFLECTION OF A PLANE WAVE BY
A PLANE SURFACE )

A Wavefront is a locus of all particles of medium vibrating in the same phase.

5
 6

Let XY be a plane reflecting surface and AB be a plane wavefront incident on the surface at
A.

According to Huygen’s principle each point on the wavefront acts as the source of
secondary wavelet. By the time, the secondary wavelets from B travel a distance BC, the
secondary wavelets from A on the reflecting surface would travel the distance AD after
reflection ie .AD=BC .The tangent CD is the reflected plane wavefront and AD is the
reflected ray.

Laws of reflection

(i) The incident wavefront AB, the reflected wavefront CD and the reflecting surface XY all lie
in the same plane.

In right angled triangles ABC and ADC

∠B = ∠ D = 900

BC = AD = vt

and AC is common

∴ The two triangles are congruent ((RHS congruency))

∠ BAC = ∠DCA

i.e. ∠i =∠ r

Thus the angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.

The incident wavefront, reflected wavefront and normal at the point of incidence all lie
in the same plane.(second law of reflection )

State superposition principle of waves.

Ans: According to this principle “at a particular point in a medium the resultant
displacement produced by a no. of waves is the algebraic sum of the displacements
produced by each of the waves.”

If 𝑦1 , 𝑦2 , 𝑦3 … be the displacements due to different waves , then the resultant

displacement
𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 + 𝑦3 + ….

6
 7

INTERFERENCE : - When two light waves having same frequency superimpose, regions of
maximum intensity and minimum intensity are formed. This is called interference of light.

There is variation of intensity at different points of the medium .At some points maximum
intensity and some points minimum intensity.

What is the relation between intensity of light and amplitude of wave?

Ans: Intensity of a wave is proportional to square of the amplitude.

I α a2

CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE(MAXIMUM INTENSITY) : When crests of two waves or two

troughs meet together the amplitude of the resultant wave becomes maximum. This is
called constructive interference.

Intensity of a wave I α a2 Imax α (a1 + a2)2

DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE. (MINIMUM INTENSITY) : - When crest of one wave meet with
trough of the other the amplitude of the resultant wave becomes minimum. This is called
destructive interference.

I α a2 , Imin α (a1 – a2)2

COHERENT SOURCES:

What is meant by coherent sources of light?

Ans: They are the sources of light which emit light of same frequency, same amplitude and
same phase or constant phase difference.

NON COHERENT SOURCES :

Two independent sources can never be coherent. Why?

Ans: - Even though they emit light of same frequency and same amplitude they cannot
produce light of same phase.

SUSTAINED INTERFERNCE

The interference pattern, in which the positions of maximum and minimum of intensity of
light remain fixed all along on the screen , is called sustained or permanent interference
pattern .

CONDITIONS FOR SUSTAINED INTERFERNCE

7
 8

• The two interfering sources must be coherent, that is, they must keep a constant
phase difference.
• The two interfering sources must emit the light of the same wavelength and time
period.
• The amplitudes or intensities of the interfering waves must be equal .
• The separation between the two coherent sources must be as small.
• The two sources must be narrow or they must be extremely small.
• The distance between the two coherent sources and the screen must be as large as
possible.
• The two interference waves must be propagated along the same direction so that
their vibrations are along a common line..

(Light of a single wavelength is known as monochromatic light)

Q. (A) Describe Young’s double slit experiment (b)In Young’s double slit experiment
,deduce the conditions for (i) constructive , and (ii) destructive interference at a point on the
screen ..

Let two slits S1 and S2 be illuminated by a monochromatic source of light (coherent

sources) at a small distance d apart

D ---distance between screen and sources

Path difference at O =0

At O a bright band is obtained and on either side of it alternate bright and dark
bands are obtained .

The crest /trough of the secondary wavelets coincides causing maximum intensity
giving rise to a bright band.

When the crest of one wave coincides with the trough of the other causing zero
intensity, giving rise to a dark band.

The dark and bright regions are called fringes and the whole pattern is called an
interference pattern.

8
 9

In young's double slit experiment ,light wave produce interference pattern of alternate
bright and dark fringes or interference band

CONDITIONS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE

Let the displacements of the waves from the sources S1 and S2 at point P on the screen at
any time t ,

𝑦1 = 𝑎1 sin 𝜔𝑡 − − − −(1)

𝑦2 = 𝑎2 sin(𝜔𝑡 + ∅) − − − −(2)

𝑎1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎2 --- respective amplitudes of two waves

∅ --- constant phase difference between two waves

By the superposition principle, the resultant displacement at point P,

𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2

𝑦 = 𝑎1 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 sin(𝜔𝑡 + ∅)

𝑦 = 𝑎1 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 [ sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ + cos 𝜔𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅ ]

𝑦 = 𝑎1 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ + 𝑎2 cos 𝜔𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅

9
 10

𝑦 = (𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅) sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅ cos 𝜔𝑡

𝑙𝑒𝑡 (𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅) = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − − − (3)

𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅ = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − − − (4)

Then 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 sin 𝜔𝑡 + cos 𝜔𝑡 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝑦 = 𝑎 [sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + cos 𝜔𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃]

Resultant displacement 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝝎𝒕 + 𝜽)

Hence resultant displacement at P is simple harmonic wave having amplitude a

Squaring and adding the equations (3) and (4)

𝑎2 (cos 2 𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃) = (𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅)2 + (𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅)2

𝑎2 = 𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 ∅ + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ + 𝑎2 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ∅

𝑎2 = 𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

𝑎 = √𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

The intensity of light is directly proportional to the square of amplitude of the wave .

𝐼 ∝ 𝑎2

ie 𝐼 = 𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ − − − (5)

OR 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 2√𝐼1 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

Condition for constructive interference

from the eq 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 2√𝐼1 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

The intensity of light will be maximum , if

𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = +1 , Maximum intensity.

Or ∅ = 0, 2𝜋, 4𝜋, … ..

Or ∅ = 𝟐𝒏𝝅 , 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏 = 𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, …

It is the condition for CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE between the two light waves in
terms of phase difference between the waves .

If x is the path difference between the two waves , then the phase difference ∅ between the

10
 11

two waves is ,

𝟐𝝅
∅= 𝒙
𝛌
λ
𝑥 = ∅ where ∅ = 2𝑛𝜋
2𝜋

λ
𝑥 = 2𝑛𝜋
2𝜋

Path difference 𝒙 = 𝒏 𝛌
𝟐𝒏𝛌
Or 𝒙 = 𝟐

Conditions:

Phase difference ∅ = 0 or even multiple of 𝜋

λ
𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑥 =even multiple of 2

𝑎 = √𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2

𝑎 = √(𝑎1 + 𝑎2 )2

𝑎 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2

𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∝ 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 2

𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∝ (𝑎1 + 𝑎2 )2

FOR DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE

From the eq 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 2√𝐼1 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

The intensity of light will be minimum , if

𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = −1 , 𝑖𝑒 Minimum intensity.

Or ∅ = 𝜋, 3𝜋, 5𝜋, … ..

Or ∅ = (𝟐𝒏 − 𝟏)𝝅 , 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏 = 𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, …

It is the condition for DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE between the two light waves in terms
of phase difference between the waves .

If x is the path difference between the two waves , then the phase difference ∅ between the

11
 12

two waves is ,

2𝜋
∅= 𝑥
λ
λ
𝑥 = ∅ where ∅ = (2𝑛 − 1)𝜋
2𝜋

λ
𝑥 = (2𝑛 − 1)𝜋
2𝜋

𝛌
𝒙 = (𝟐𝒏 − 𝟏)
𝟐

Conditions

𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 ∅ = odd multiple of 𝜋

λ
𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑥 = odd multiple of 2

𝑎 = √𝑎1 2 + 𝑎2 2 − 2𝑎1 𝑎2

𝑎 = √(𝑎1 − 𝑎2 )2

𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑎1 − 𝑎2

𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛 ∝ 𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛 2

𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛 ∝ (𝑎1 − 𝑎2 )2

IMPORTANT RESULTS

1. Ratio of intensity of light at maxima and minima

𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 (𝑎1 + 𝑎2 )2
=
𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛 (𝑎1 − 𝑎2 )2

2. If 𝑎1 = 𝑎2
𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2a
𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0
𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0 ie dark bands will be perfectly dark contrast between bright and dark
bands will be best.
3. Ratio of intensity of light due to two sources: The intensity of light due to a slit is
directly proportional to the width of the slit .Le 𝑤1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤2 are width of two slits
S1 and S2 and I1 and I2 are intensities of light due to the respective slit
𝑤 𝐼1
=
𝑤2 𝐼2

12
 13

Since intensity of light is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude of

the light wave

𝑰𝟏 𝒂𝟏 𝟐
=
𝑰𝟐 𝒂𝟐 𝟐

𝑤1 𝒂𝟏 𝟐
∴ =
𝑤1 𝒂𝟐 𝟐

Q. Find out the expression for the amplitude of the resultant displacement at a point and show
that the intensity at that point will be I=4I0cos2ϕ/2.

𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 2√𝐼1 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

I α a2

If intensity is same 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 𝐼0
𝐼 = 𝐼0 + 𝐼0 + 2√𝐼0 𝐼0 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

𝐼 = 2𝐼0 + 2 𝐼0 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

𝐼 = 2𝐼0 (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ )

Let 1+ 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 (ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 2𝜃 = ∅, 𝜃 = ∅/2)

𝐼 = 2𝐼0 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 ∅/2

𝑰 = 𝟒𝑰𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 ∅/𝟐

Q: Describe Young’s double slit experiment and write the expression for the width of the
fringes of maxima and minima .What will happen to the fringe width , when whole of the
apparatus is placed in water?

EXPRESSION FOR FRINGE WIDTH IN INFERENCE OF LIGHT WAVES ( YOUNG’S DOUBLE SLIT
EXPERIMENT )

13
 14

In young's double slit experiment ,light wave produce interference pattern of alternate
bright and dark fringes or interference band

FRINGE WIDTH OR BAND WIDTH

• Distance between two consecutive bright or dark bands is called fringe width or
band width.

𝛌𝐃
Fringe width. β =
𝑑
The distance between two consecutive dark or bright fringe is called
fringe width.

𝜷 λD
Angular width 𝜽 = = (The angular fringe width is the
𝑫 𝑑𝐷
distance of the central fringe from the slit. It also indicates the angular separation
between the fringes.)
λ
Angular width 𝜽 =
𝑑

When whole of the apparatus is placed in water, the fringe width will decreases.

Q.What happens if the experimental set up of Young’s double slit experiment is immersed
in water.

𝛌𝐃
Ans: We have β =
𝑑

The velocity of light in water is less than that in air. So the wavelength of light is less in
water. So the bandwidth decreases.. So When whole of the apparatus is placed in water,
the fringe width will decreases.

14
 15

𝛌𝒂⁄
𝛌𝒂 𝛌𝒘 𝐃 𝒏𝒘) 𝐃
Note 𝛌𝒘 =𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓(𝒏 , 𝛃 𝒘 = , 𝛃𝒘 = ,
𝒘) 𝑑 𝑑

𝛃𝒂
𝛃𝒘 =
𝒏𝒘)

Q.How can you increase the fringe width of interference bands? Ans:

𝛌𝐃
We have, β = We can increase fringe width β by:
𝑑

(i) Increasing the wavelength of light (λ) Fringe width will be greater for red than violet

(ii) Increasing the distance b/n the sources and screen (D)

(i) By decreasing the distance b/n the two coherent sources(d)

Q. Thin films such as soap bubbles or a thin layer of oil on water show beautiful colours
,when illuminated by white light. Give reason.

ANS : This is due to interference of light. Light waves reflected from upper and lower
surfaces of a thin film interfere with each other .The coloured interference fringes are
produced due to the reason that the conditions for constructive and destructive interference
depend on the wavelength of the light used.

Q. What happens when monochromatic light source in the Young’s double slit experiment is
replaced by white light?

Ans: - Coloured fringes are formed on the screen. The central fringe will be white. The fringe
closest on either side of central white fringe is red and the farthest will appear blue. After a
few fringes, no clear fringe pattern is seen

DIFFRACTION

A beam of light falls normally on a single slit and bends around its corners.
This phenomenon is called diffraction.

It is a common observation with the waves of all kind that they bend round the edge of an
obstacle

we can explain diffraction phenomenon using Huygens’s principle

• The diffraction phenomenon are usually divided into two classes

i) Fresnel class of diffraction : The type of diffraction that takes place at a slit ,when
the source of light lies at a finite distance from it . So the wavefront is either
spherical or cylindrical in nature.

15
 16

ii) Fraunhofer class of diffraction : The type of diffraction that takes place at a slit
,when a plane wavefront is incident on it and the wavefront emerging from the slit is
also plane. Both the source and the screen should be at infinite distance from the
narrow slit.

phenomenon where the source and the screen are at infinite distance from the aperture,
this is easily achieved by placing the source on the focal plane of a convex lens and
placing screen on focal plane of another convex lens. This class of diffraction is simple to
treat and easy to observe in practice.

Sound waves and radio waves Visible light

Diffraction is observed readily because Diffraction is not readily observed as the
wavelengths are large and comparable wavelengths are small and cannot be
with the size of the obstacle comparable with the size of the obstacle

Q. Describe diffraction of light due to a single slit. Explain the formation of a pattern of
fringes obtained on the screen and plot showing variation of intensity with angle 𝜽 in single
slit diffraction.

DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT AT A SINGLE SLIT(Fraunhofer)

OR

16
 17

DIFFRACTION DUE TO A SINGLE SLIT (FRAUNHOFER) When light from a monochromatic source is
incident on a single narrow slit, it gets diffracted and a pattern of alternate bright and dark fringes
is obtained on screen, called “Diffraction Pattern” of single slit. In diffraction pattern of single slit,
it is found that -a broad pattern with a central bright region is seen. On both sides, there are
alternate dark and bright regions, the intensity becoming weaker away from the centre

(I) Central bright fringe is of maximum intensity and the intensity of any secondary bright
fringe decreases with increase in its order.

(II) Central bright fringe is twice as wide as any other secondary bright or dark fringe

Consider a plane wavefront be incident on a slit of width ‘a’ and the diffracted light is made
to converge on a screen using a convex lens.

Draw AN perpendicular to BP and BP – AP = BN

BN is the path difference

𝐵𝑁
sin 𝜃 =
𝐴𝐵
𝐵𝑁 = 𝐴𝐵 sin 𝜃

path difference 𝑩𝑵 = 𝒂 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽

If P is the position of secondary minimum

path difference 𝑎 sin 𝜃 = 2𝑛 λ⁄2 even multiples of λ⁄2 (path difference)

n= 1,2,3….

𝒂 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = n 𝛌 for nth secondary minimum. Or

𝒏𝛌
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = for nth secondary minimum
𝒂

EXPLANATION FOR THE ABOVE CONDITION :

( For n=1 ,first secondary minimum )

Let us assume the slit is made of two equal parts .The light is emerging from two
λ
corresponding points from 2 slits has a path difference of .This implies that the path
2
difference is

𝑎 λ
( ) sin 𝜃 =
2 2
a sin θ = ʎ

17
 18

λ
sin θ =
𝑎
There is a destructive interference and a point P on the screen placed in front of the slit is
dark.

(For n=2, second secondary minimum )

Let us assume that the slit is broken into 4 parts . The light emerging from two
corresponding points from first 2 parts and two corresponding points from next two parts

has a phase difference of 𝜋.This implies that the path difference is

𝑎 λ
( ) sin 𝜃 =
4 2
a sin θ = 2 ʎ

In general, point P will be dark if the light from any corresponding point has path difference

𝑎 sin 𝜃 = 𝑛λ

𝑛λ
sin 𝜃 =
𝑎
The general equation for the minimum intensity
nλ
can be written as θ = (for small angles sin θ is approximately equal to θ )
𝑎

Positions of Secondary Maxima

If P is the position of secondary maxima

𝑎 sin 𝜃 = (2𝑛 + 1) λ⁄2

(𝟐𝒏+𝟏)𝛌
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = secondary maxima
𝟐𝒂

n= 1,2,3,….

EXPLANATION FOR THE ABOVE CONDITION

( For n=1 ,first secondary maximum )

Imagine the slit broken into three parts and the light emerging from corresponding points
of 2 parts of the slit has phase difference of 𝜋 . This implies the path difference is
𝑎 λ
(3) sin 𝜃 = 2

3
a sin 𝜃 = 2 λ .

18
 19

We can roughly state that light from two parts has been cancelled while that from the odd
part did not, resulting in brightness on the screen at point P.

Similarly ,if the slit were imagined broken into 5 parts, light from 4 parts will have cancelled
leaving the fifth to give brightness ie,

𝑎 λ 5
( ) sin 𝜃 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 sin 𝜃 = λ
5 2 2
In general ,for a bright fringe we can state that

λ
𝑎 sin 𝜃 = (2𝑛 + 1)
2
𝛌
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = (𝟐𝒏 + 𝟏)
𝟐𝒂
Here n= 1,2,3…

Sin 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
𝛌
Therefore 𝜃 = (𝟐𝒏 + 𝟏) 𝟐𝒂

Width of the secondary maxima & minima ( from above fig )

If yn is the distance of the nth minimum from the centre of the screen and D is the distance
between the slit and the screen , then from right angled triangle COP ,the angular position of
the nth minimum,

0𝑃 0𝑃
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = =
𝐶𝑃 𝐶𝑂
𝑦𝑛
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 =
𝐷
(a)From the condition for secondary minima is
𝑛λ
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑎

𝑦𝑛 𝑛λ
=
𝐷 𝑎
𝒏𝑫𝛌
𝒚𝒏 =
𝒂
(𝑛−1)𝐷λ
𝑦𝑛−1 = 𝑎

19
 20

Then width of the secondary minima ,

𝑛𝐷λ (𝑛 − 1)𝐷λ
𝛽 = 𝑦𝑛 − 𝑦𝑛−1 = −
𝑎 𝑎
𝑫𝛌
𝜷=
𝒂
(b) From the condition for secondary maxima is
𝛌
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = (𝟐𝒏 + 𝟏) 𝟐𝒂

𝑦𝑛 𝛌
= (𝟐𝒏 + 𝟏) 𝟐𝒂
𝐷

(2𝑛 + 1)𝐷𝛌
𝑦𝑛 =
2𝑎
(2(𝑛−1 )+1)𝐷𝛌
𝑦𝑛−1 = 2𝑎

The width of the secondary minimum,

(2𝑛 + 1)𝐷𝛌 [ 2 (𝑛 − 1) − 1]𝐷𝛌

𝛽′ = 𝑦𝑛 − 𝑦𝑛−1 = −
2𝑎 2𝑎

𝑫𝛌
𝜷′ =
𝒂

ie 𝜷 = 𝜷′

All the secondary maxima and minima are of the same width .

WIDTH OF CENTRAL MAXIMUM

20
 21

It is the separation between first minimum on either side, It is found that the central fringe
𝑫𝛌
is bright and its width is 𝜷𝒄 = 𝟐 ( twice the width of secondary minima or maxima on
𝒂
either side of the central maximum )

NOTE : In refraction violet deviates most, but in diffraction red deviates most.(
θ = 𝛌 /d )

Q.Draw the intensity distribution of diffraction pattern

COMPARISON BETWEEN INTERFERENCE AND DIFFRACTION

Interference Diffraction
Interference is due to superposition of two Diffraction is a result of superposition of the
distinct waves coming from two coherent secondary wavelets coming from different
sources. parts of the same wavefront.
In interference, all bright bands are of same in diffraction pattern, all bright bands are
intensity; not of same intensity.

The width of interference fringes is equal The width of diffraction bands is always
unequal.
The regions of minimum intensity are The regions of minimum intensity are not
perfectly dark. perfectly dark.

Notes

Condition for bright fringe(constructive interference)

𝑦𝑑
= 𝑛𝛌
𝐷
21
 22

𝑛𝐷𝛌
𝑦=
𝑑
) Condition for dark fringes (destructive interference)

• If the path difference is an odd multiple of λ/2, then point P is dark. So,

𝑦𝑑 (2𝑛 − 1)𝛌
=
𝐷 2

(2𝑛−1)𝛌
yn = 𝐷
2𝑑

22