Physicsclass 12 Project

Index
S.No. Title Page No. Signature
1 Acknowledgement
2 Introduction
3 Experiment on
Interferance
4 Interferance Patterns
5 Derivations
6 Observations
7 Graphs
8 Conditions
9 Bibliography
ACKnOWLedGeMenT
I would like to express my special thanks of
gratitude to my physics teacher Mr. Vinay Kumar
Gupta, as well as our principal, Bro. Jinu
Abraham for providing me with the opportunity
to work on this beautiful project.
Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents
and friends who helped me to finish this project
within the limited time frame.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone without
whose help I could not have completed my
project successfully.
Thank You
InTrOduCTIOn
(TheOry)
 COHERENT SOURCES
The sources of light, which emit continuous light waves of the

same wavelength, same frequency and in the same phase
difference are called coherent sources.
Conditions to obtain coherent light:
1. Two sources should be single source or by same device.
2. Two sources should give monochromatic light.
3. The path difference between light waves from 2 sources

should be small.
 INTERFERENCE OF LIGHT
It is the phenomenon of redistribution of light energy in a
medium on account of superposition of light wave from 2
coherent sources. There are 2 types:
1. Constructive Interference.
2. Destructive Interference
yOunG’s dOubLe sLIT
experIMenT
Young’s double slit experiment uses two coherent sources of
light placed at a small distance apart. Usually, only a few orders
of magnitude greater than the wavelength of light are used.
Young’s double slit experiment helped in understanding
the wave theory of light, which is explained with the help of a
diagram. As shown, a screen or photodetector is placed at a
large distance, ‘D’, away from the slits.
yOunG’s dOubLe sLIT
experIMenT
The appearance of bright and dark fringes on screen
can be explained on the basis of interference of light.
According to Huygens principle, the monochromatic
source of light illuminating the slit S sends out spherical
wavefronts. Let the solid arcs represent the crests ant
the dotted arcs represent the troughs. These wavefronts
reach the slits A and B simultaneously which in turn,
become sources of secondary wavelets. Thus the 2
waves on superposition produce interference.
Fig1. Interference Pattern

The dots (.) represent the positions of constructive
interference, where crests of one wave falls on crests of
the other and trough falls on trough. The resultant
Amplitude and hence intensity of light is maximum at
these positions. The lines joining the dots lead to points
C, E, G on the screen. Similarly, the crosses (x) represent
the positions of destructive interference, where crest of
one wave falls on trough of the other and vice-versa.
The resultant amplitude and hence intensity of light is
minimum at these positions. The lines joining the
crosses lead to points D, F on the screen. Thus, we have
Bright Fringes at C, E, and G and Dark Fringes at D and F.
These bright and dark fringes are placed alternatively
and they are equally spaced. These are called
INTEFERENCE FRINGES.
InTerFerenCe pATTerns
Let the waves from 2 coherent sources of light be
represented as
y1 = a sinωt………………………… (1)
y2 = b sin (ωt + θ) ……………………... (2)
where a and b ate the respective amplitudes of 2 waves

and θ is the constant phase angle by which second wave
leads the first wave.
According to superposition principle, the displacement y

of the resultant wave at time “t” would be given by
y=y1 + y2 = a sinωt + b sin (ωt + θ)
= a sinωt + b sinωt cosθ + b cosωt sinθ
y = sinωt (a+b cosθ) + cosωt. b sinθ……………. (3)
put a + b cosθ = A cosФ……………. (4)
b sinθ = A sinФ……………. (5)
Therefore y = sinωt. AcosФ + cosωt. AsinФ
= A (sinωt cosФ + cosωt sinФ)
y = A sin (wt +Ф) ………………. (6)

Thus, the resultant wave is a harmonic wave of amplitude
A.
Squaring (4) and (5) and adding
We get, A = √a + 𝑏 + 2ab cosθ …. (7)
As resultant intensity I is directly proportional to the

square of the amplitude of the resultant wave
Thus, I α A2 i.e. I α a2 + b2 + 2ab cosθ……. (8)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………..........
COndITIOns FOr COnsTruCTIve
And desTruCTIve
InTerFerenCe
COnsTruCTIve InTerFerenCe
I should be maximum, for which
Cosθ = max = +1 so, θ = 0, 2π, 4π, …...
i.e. θ = 2nπ where n = 0, 1, 2……
if x is the path difference, then
x=λθ/2π
x = λ (2n π)/2π i.e. x=nλ
Hence, condition for constructive interference at a point

is that phase difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the
point should be zero or an even integral multiple of π.
Or
Path difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point

should be 0 or an integral multiple of full wavelength.
So,
𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒙 =(a+b)
desTruCTIve InTerFerenCe
I should be minimum, for which
Cosθ = min = -1 so, θ = π, 3π, 5π, …
i.e. θ = (2n-1) π; where n = 1,2,3……
if x is the path difference, then
x=λθ/2π
x = λ ((2n-1) π)/2π
x=(2n-1) λ/2
Hence, condition for constructive interference at a point

is that phase difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the
point should be an odd integral multiple of π.
Or
Path difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point

should be an odd integral multiple of half the
wavelength. So
𝑨𝒎𝒊𝒏 = (a-b)
derIvATIOn
Looking at Figure 2,
Fig.2: Schematic Diagram
The intensity of light at the point on the screen will

depend on the path difference b/w the 2 waves arriving
at that point. The point C is at equal distance from A
and B. Therefore, the path difference b/w 2 waves
reaching C is 0 and the point C is of maximum intensity.
It is called CENTRAL MAXIMUM.
Consider a point p at a distance x from C. The path

difference b/w 2 waves arriving at P,
= BP – AP……. (9)
Let O be the mid-point of AB, and
AB = EF = d, AE = BF = D
From the figure,
PE = PC – EC= x-d/2
and PF = PC + CF = (x + d)/2
By Pythagoras and Binomially,
BP= D [1 + (x + d/2)2/2D2] ……. (10)
and AP= D [1 + (x - d/2)2/2D2] ……… (11)
Putting these values in (9), we get, path difference
BP-AP= D [1 + (x + d/2)2/2D2 - 1 - (x - d/2)2/2D2]
BP - AP= xd/D……………... (12)
For Bright Fringes
Path Difference = xd/D = nλ where n= 0,1,2…
or x=nλD/d ……... (13)
For Dark Fringes
Path Difference = xd/D = (2n-1) λ/2 where n=1,2,3…
or x=(2n-1) λD/2d ……. (13)

Comparison shows that dark interference fringes are
situated in b/w bright interference fringes and vice-
versa
Separation b/w the centres of 2 consecutive bright

fringes is the width of dark fringe.
β = xn – xn-1 = nλD/d- (n-1) λD/d
β= λD/d………. (14)
Similarly, separation b/w the centres of 2 consecutive

bright fringes is the width of dark fringe.
Β’ = x’n – x’n-1 = [(2n-1) λD/2d]-[(2(n-1)-1) λD/2d]
β = β’= λD/d………. (15)
So, all bright and dark fringes are of equal width.

GrAph
Intensity Vs Path Difference
Angular separation of the fringes is just (λ/d). It is

independent of the position on the screen.
At sites of constructive interference,
𝐼 α (𝑅 ) 2 α (a+b) 2 = constant
Hence all bright interference bands have same intensity
At sites of destructive interference,
Imin α (Rmin)2 α (a-b) 2 = constant = 0 (at a=b)
Hence all dark interference bands have same (zero)

intensity.
Fig.: 3 represents the intensity of double slit interference

pattern as a function of path difference θ b/w the waves of the
screen.
COndITIOns.
For Sustained Interference
1. The 2 sources of light must be coherent

i.e., they continuous light waves of same
wavelength or frequency, which have
either same phase of constant path
difference.
2. The 2 sources should be strong with least
background.
3. The amplitudes of waves from 2 sources
should preferably be equal.
4. The 2 sources should preferably be
monochromatic.
5. The coherent sources must be very close
to each other.
6. The 2 sources should be point and
narrow sources.
bIbLIOGrAphy
 SITES
 http://vsg.quasihome.com/interfer.htm
 BOOKS
 Pradeep’s Physics Practical

 Physics N.C.E.R.T textbook.
 Comprehensive Chemistry Practical.
 Resnick and Halliday.

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Index

S.No. Title Page No. Signature

The sources of light, which emit continuous light waves of the

Conditions to obtain coherent light:

1. Two sources should be single source or by same device.

2. Two sources should give monochromatic light.

3. The path difference between light waves from 2 sources

Fig1. Interference Pattern

y2 = b sin (ωt + θ) ……………………... (2)

where a and b ate the respective amplitudes of 2 waves

According to superposition principle, the displacement y

y=y1 + y2 = a sinωt + b sin (ωt + θ)

= a sinωt + b sinωt cosθ + b cosωt sinθ

y = sinωt (a+b cosθ) + cosωt. b sinθ……………. (3)

put a + b cosθ = A cosФ……………. (4)

b sinθ = A sinФ……………. (5)

Therefore y = sinωt. AcosФ + cosωt. AsinФ

= A (sinωt cosФ + cosωt sinФ)

y = A sin (wt +Ф) ………………. (6)

Squaring (4) and (5) and adding

We get, A = √a + 𝑏 + 2ab cosθ …. (7)

As resultant intensity I is directly proportional to the

Thus, I α A2 i.e. I α a2 + b2 + 2ab cosθ……. (8)

Cosθ = max = +1 so, θ = 0, 2π, 4π, …...

i.e. θ = 2nπ where n = 0, 1, 2……

if x is the path difference, then

x = λ (2n π)/2π i.e. x=nλ

Hence, condition for constructive interference at a point

Path difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point

Cosθ = min = -1 so, θ = π, 3π, 5π, …

i.e. θ = (2n-1) π; where n = 1,2,3……

if x is the path difference, then

Hence, condition for constructive interference at a point

Path difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point

Fig.2: Schematic Diagram

The intensity of light at the point on the screen will

Consider a point p at a distance x from C. The path

Let O be the mid-point of AB, and

By Pythagoras and Binomially,

BP= D [1 + (x + d/2)2/2D2] ……. (10)

and AP= D [1 + (x - d/2)2/2D2] ……… (11)

Putting these values in (9), we get, path difference

BP-AP= D [1 + (x + d/2)2/2D2 - 1 - (x - d/2)2/2D2]

BP - AP= xd/D……………... (12)

For Bright Fringes

Path Difference = xd/D = nλ where n= 0,1,2…

or x=nλD/d ……... (13)

For Dark Fringes

Path Difference = xd/D = (2n-1) λ/2 where n=1,2,3…

or x=(2n-1) λD/2d ……. (13)

Separation b/w the centres of 2 consecutive bright

β = xn – xn-1 = nλD/d- (n-1) λD/d

Similarly, separation b/w the centres of 2 consecutive

Β’ = x’n – x’n-1 = [(2n-1) λD/2d]-[(2(n-1)-1) λD/2d]

β = β’= λD/d………. (15)

So, all bright and dark fringes are of equal width.

Angular separation of the fringes is just (λ/d). It is

Hence all bright interference bands have same intensity

At sites of destructive interference,