Q1.

Is the phenomenon of interference of light in accordance

with the law of conservation of energy? Justify.

SOL: Let the intensities of the two interfering light waves be I₁ and I₂.
Before interference

The average intensity is the sum of individual intensities:

I av =I 1 + I 2 ( i )

After interference

Bright and dark fringes are formed.

 Maximum intensity (bright fringe):

I max=¿

 Minimum intensity (dark fringe):

I min =¿

The average intensity after interference is:

' I max + I min

I av = Substituting values:
2
' ' '
I av =¿ ¿I av =¿ ¿I av =I 1 + I 2 (ii)

Conclusion

From (i) and (ii):

'
I av =I av

Hence, energy is neither created nor destroyed during interference.

It is only redistributed from regions of minima to regions of maxima.

✔ Therefore, interference of light obeys the law of conservation of

energy.

Q2. The intensity at the central maximum O in a Young’s double slit

experiment is I 0.
If the distance OPis one-third of the fringe width of the interference
I
pattern, show that the intensity at point Pis 0 .
4
1
SOL: Intensity at central maximum O is I 0. Distance OP= 3 of fringe width
β.
 λD
Solution Fringe width in YDSE is: β=
d
β λD
So, y=OP= =
3 3d
yd
Path difference at point P: Δ=
D
Substitute value of y :
Δ=
1 λD
D 3d ( )
d=
λ
3

Phase difference:
2π 2π
Δ ϕ= Δ=
λ 3

Intensity at point P: I =I 0 cos ⁡2 ( Δ2ϕ )

() ()
2 π 1
2
I0
I =I 0 cos ⁡ I =I 0 =
3 2 4

✅ Final Answer:
I0
I P=
4

Note (important for exams): Use I =I 0 cos ⁡2 ( Δ ϕ /2)

Q3. In a double slit interference experiment, the two coherent beams

have slightly different intensities I and I + δI ( δI ≪ I ). Show that the resultant
intensity at the maxima is nearly 4 I , while that at the minima is nearly
( δI ¿2
.
4I

SOL:
The resultant intensity due to two coherent sources is:

I R =I 1 + I 2+ 2 √ I 1 I 2 cos ⁡ϕ Here,

I 1=I , I 2=I + δI

At maxima ( cos ⁡ϕ=1 ):

I max=I +(I + δI )+2 √ I (I + δI)

Using δI ≪ I ,

√ I (I + δI)≈ I I max ≈ 2 I +δI + 2 I =4 I I max ≈ 4 I

At minima ( cos ⁡ϕ=−1 ) :

I min =I +(I + δI )−2 √ I (I +δI )Use binomial approximation:

( δI ( δI ¿
)
2

√ I (I + δI)=I 1+ −
2 I 8I2
Substitute:

(
δI ( δI ¿
)
2
I min =2 I +δI −2 I 1+ −
2I 8 I2

( δI ¿2
Simplifying: I min =
4I

( δI ¿2
Final Answer: I max ≈ 4 I and I min ≈
4I

Q4. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths, 650 nm and 520 nm,
is used to obtain interference fringes in a Young’s double-slit experiment.
(a) Find the distance of the third bright fringe from the central maximum
for wavelength 650 nm.
(b) What is the least distance from the central maximum where the bright
fringes due to both wavelengths coincide?
The distance between the slits is 2 mm and the distance between the slit
plane and the screen is 120 cm.

SOL: λ 1=650 nm=650 ×10−9 m, λ 2=520 nm=520× 10−9 m

−3
D=120 cm=1.2 m , d=2 mm=2×10 m

(a) Position of third bright fringe (for λ 1)

Position of nth bright fringe:

 nλD
x n=
d
For third bright fringe (n=3):
−9
3× 650 ×10 × 1.2 −3
x 3= −3 x 3=1.17 ×10 m (b) Least distance where bright fringes
2 ×10
coincide Let the least
coincidence occur when
N fringes of wavelength λ 1coincide with ( N +1 ) fringes of wavelength λ 2.

λ2 520
N λ1=(N +1)λ 2 N= = =4 Distance from central maximum:
λ 1−λ2 650−520
−9
N λ1 D 4 × 650 ×10 ×1.2
x=1.56 ×10 m Final Answers:
−3
x=N β 1= x= −3
d 2 ×10
−3 −3
x 3=1.17 ×10 m x coincidence=1.56 ×10 m

Q5. (a) (i) Two independent monochromatic sources of light cannot

produce a sustained interference pattern. Give reason.

(ii) Light waves each of amplitude a and frequency ω , emanating from two
coherent sources, superpose at a point. If the displacements due to these
waves are y 1=a co s ωt and y 2=a cos ⁡(ωt +ϕ ), where ϕ is the
phase difference between the two waves, obtain the expression for the
resultant intensity at the point.
(b) In Young’s double slit experiment, using monochromatic light of
wavelength λ , the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path
difference is λ is k units.
λ
Find the intensity of light at a point where path difference is .
3
SOL. (a)(i) Independent monochromatic sources do not maintain a
constant phase difference. Hence, they are not coherent and cannot
produce a sustained interference pattern.
(a)(ii) By superposition principle: y= y 1+ y 2 =a cos ⁡ωt+ a cos ⁡(ωt +ϕ )
ϕ
Using trigonometric identity: y=2a cos ⁡ cos ⁡ ωt +
2
ϕ
2 ( )
ϕ
Thus, resultant amplitude: A=2 a cos ⁡
2
2 2ϕ
Since intensity I ∝ A 2, I =4 a cos ⁡
2
 (b) Path difference λ corresponds to phase difference 2 π .
2 2 k
Hence, intensity at that point is maximum: k =4 a ⇒ a =
4
λ 2π
For path difference , phase difference: ϕ=
3 3

' 2 2 ϕ k 2 π
Intensity: I =4 a cos ⁡ =4 × cos ⁡
2 4 3

()
2
' 1 k
I =k × =
2 4

Final Answer:

2 2 ϕ
 Resultant intensity: I =4 a cos ⁡
2

k
 Intensity for path difference λ /3: I=
4

Q6. What should be the width of each slit to obtain 10 maxima of the
double-slit pattern within the central maximum of the single-slit
diffraction pattern, for green light of wavelength 500 nm, if the
separation between the two slits is 1 mm? SOL:
−7
Given: λ=500 nm=5 ×10 m
−3
d=1 mm=1× 10 m Let slit width ¿ a
Theory Used:

 Angular width of central maximum (single slit):

2λ
2 θ=
a
 Angular separation between consecutive interference maxima
(double slit):
λ
Δ θ=
d

 Number of interference maxima within central diffraction maximum:

 Angular width of central maximum
N=
Angular fringe separation
Calculation:
2λ
a 2d
N= =
λ a
d

Given N=10 :
2d 2d d
10= ⇒ a= =
a 10 5
Substitute d=1 mm:
1
a= mm=0.2 mm Final Answer: a=0.2 mm
5

Q.7. In Young’s double slit experiment, using light of wavelength 400

nm, interference fringes of width X are obtained. The wavelength is
increased to 600 nm and the separation between the slits is halved. If
the fringe width is to remain the same, find the ratio of distances
between the screen and the plane of the slits in the two cases.
SOL:Fringe width,
λD
β=
d
For first case:
λ1 D 1
β 1=
d1

For second case:

λ2 D 2
β 2=
d2

Given β 1=β 2:

λ1 D 1 λ 2 D 2 D 1 λ 2 d 1
= =
d1 d 2 D2 λ 1 d 2

Here,

d 1 D1 600 × 2
λ 1=400 nm , λ 2=600 nm , d 2= = =3
2 D2 400× 1
 Answer:

D1 : D2=3 :1Q.8. In a double slit experiment, the screen is moved

−2 −5
5 ×10 m towards the slits and the change in fringe width is 3 ×10 m. If
slit separation is 10−3 m, find the wavelength of light used.

SOL: d=10
−3
m , Δ W =3 ×10
−5
m, Δ D=5 ×10
−2
m
−5 −3
λD λ ΔW d 3× 10 ×10 −7
W= Δ W = Δ D λ= λ= =6 × 10 m
d d ΔD 5 ×10
−2

−7
λ=6 ×10 m
Q.9. Laser light of wavelength 630 nm produces interference fringes
separated by 7.2 mm. Another laser produces fringes separated by 8.1
mm using the same slits. Find the wavelength of the second laser.
λ 2 β2
SOL: β ∝ λ , = ,
λ 1 β1
8.1
λ 2= ×630=708.75 nm
7.2
Ans
λ 2=708.75 nm
Q.10. In an interference experiment, amplitudes of the two waves are 2
units each. Find the resultant amplitude:
(a) when phase difference is 60∘ (b) when path difference is λ /2
SOL:
(a) r =√ a2 +b2 +2 ab cos ⁡θr =√ 4+ 4+ 8 cos ⁡60∘= √ 12=2 √ 3

(b) Path difference λ /2⇒ phase difference π

r =√ 4+ 4−8=0
Answers: r =2 √ 3 units (a), r =0 (b)

Q11. In YDSE, the first minimum occurs just in front of one slit. Given
λ=6000 Å and reminder distance D=60 cm, find slit separation.
λD d d λD 2
SOL: Position of first minimum: y=
2d
Here, y= , =
2 2 2d
⇒ d = λD

d= √ λD=√ 6 ×10−7 × 60× 10−2=6 × 10− 4 m

Answer: d=6 ×10−4 m

Q.12. In a double slit experiment, wavelength of light is 600 nm and
angular fringe width is 0.1∘. Find slit separation.

SOL:
−9
λ λ 0.1 π
radd= 600 ×10 =0.34 × 10−3 m
∘
Δ θ= ⇒ d= Δ θ=0.1 =
d Δθ 180 0.1 π /180

Ans: d=0.34 mm

Q13. A parallel beam of monochromatic light of wavelength 500 nm

falls normally on a narrow slit and the resulting diffraction pattern is
obtained on a screen 1 m away. The first minimum is observed at a
distance of 2.5 mm from the centre of the screen. Find: (a) the width of
the slit
(b) the distance of the second maximum from the centre
(c) the width of the central maximum

Given:
−7 −3
λ=500 nm=5 ×10 m D=1 m , y 1=2.5 mm=2.5 ×10 m

(a) Width of the slit

For first minimum in single slit diffraction:

−7
λD λD 5 ×10 ×1 −4
y 1= d= = =2 ×10 md=0.2 mm
d y1 2.5 ×10
−3

(b) Distance of second maximum

( 2n+ 1) λD
Position of nth secondary maximum: y n= For second maximum
2d
−7
5 λD 5 ×5 ×10 × 1 −3
( n=2 ): y 2=y 2= =6.25× 10 m y 2=6.25 mm (c) Width of
2d 2 ×0.2 ×10
−3

2 λD −3 −3
central maximum W = =2 y 1 ,W =2 ×2.5 ×10 =5.0 ×10 mW =5.0 mm
d

Q.14. In Young’s experiment, fringe width with light of wavelength 6000

Å is 2.0 mm. What will be the fringe width if the apparatus is immersed in
a liquid of refractive index 1.33?

Given: β=2.0 mm , μ=1.33

λair ' β 2.0
Solution: β ∝ λ and λ liquid = ,β= = ≈ 1.50 mm β ' =1.50 mm
μ μ 1.33
Q15. In YDSE, slit separation is 3 mm, wavelength 480 nm, and screen
distance 2 m. Calculate the separation between the 8th bright fringe
and the 3rd dark fringe from the central bright fringe.

Given: d=3× 10−3 m , λ=480 ×10−9 m , D=2 m SOL: Fringe width:

−9
λD 480 ×10 × 2 −5
β= = −3
=32× 10 m Position of 8th bright fringe: x 8=8 β
d 3 ×10
( 2× 3−1 ) 5
Position of 3rd dark fringe: x 3= β= β
2 2

Separation¿ 8 − ( 52 ) β= 112 ×32 ×10 −5

¿ 1.76 ×10
−3
mSeparation=1.76 mm Q16. In
Young’s double slit experiment, the two slits 0.15 mm apart are
illuminated by monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm. The screen is
1.0 m away from the slits. (a) Find the distance of the second
(i) bright fringe (ii) dark fringe
from the central maximum. (b) How will the fringe pattern change if the
screen is moved away from the slits?
Given d=0.15 mm=0.15 ×10−3 m , λ=450 nm=450 ×10−9 m , D=1.0 m (a)(i)
Distance of second bright fringe

max nλD
yn = For n=2:
d
−9
max 2× 450 ×10 × 1 −3
y2 = −3
=6 ×10 m y max
2 =6 mm (a)(ii) Distance of second
0.15 ×10
dark fringe
−9
(2 n−1) λD min 3× 450 ×10 ×1
y min
n = For n=2, y2 = −3
=4.5 mm y min
2 =4.5 mm (b)
2d 2 ×0.15 ×10
Effect of moving screen away
λD λ
β= , Δ θ=
d d
 Linear fringe width increases

 Angular fringe width remains constant

Q.17. In single slit diffraction, the first minimum for red light (660 nm)
coincides with the first maximum of light of wavelength λ '. Find λ '.

Sol: For first minimum:

a sin ⁡θ=λ r

For first maximum:

 '
3λ
a sin ⁡θ=
2
Equating:
'
3λ 2 ' 2
⇒ λ = λ r λ = ×660=440 nm λ ' =440 nm
'
λ r=
2 3 3