Exercises

Multiple choice questions.

1. Interference of light is evidence that :
A. the speed of light is very large B. light is a transverse wave
C. light is electromagnetic in character D. light is a wave phenomenon
2. The phenomenon of diffraction can be understood using
A. Huygens principle B. Fraunhofer
C. Uncertainty principle D. Fresnel
3. Significant diffraction of X ray can be obtained
A. by a single slit B. by a double slit
C. by diffraction D. by atomic crystal
4. A slit of width ‘a’ is illuminated by white light. For what vaule of ‘ a’ will the first minimum
for red light fall at an angle of 30° wavelength of red light is 6500 Å .
A. 1.1 × 10–3 cm B. 1.4 × 10–4 cm C. 1.3 × 10–4 cm D. 1.6 × 10–4 cm
5. Colors in thin films are because of
A. dispersion B. interference C. compton effect D. diffraction
6. For single slit Diffraction, the path difference between the two ends of the slit is
A. Δ = a sin θ B. Δ = a cos θ C. Δ = cos θ D. Δ = 0
7. In a Young's double-slit experiment the center of a bright fringe occurs wherever waves from
the slits differ in the distance they travel by a multiple of:
A. a fourth of a wavelength B. a half a wavelength
C. a wavelength D. three-fourths of a wavelength
8. The conditions for the production of constructive and destructive interference are reversed
due to the fact that on striking the thin film -------.
A. two rays of splitted light undergo phase change of 180°
B. one of two rays of splitted light undergo phase change of 180°
C. light is diffracted and polarized
D. total internal reflection
9. Which type of light waves can be polarized?
A. Radio waves B. Sound waves C. Infrared waves D. Transverse waves
10. What is the primary application of polarized sunglasses?
A. To enhance colors in the environment B. To increase the intensity of light
C. To reduce glare from surfaces like water and snow D. To make objects appear larger
Questions and Problems
1.Light with a wavelength of 5.40 × 102 nm is incident on a slit of width 11 mm and produces a
diffraction pattern on a screen located 80.0 cm behind the slit. Calculate the distance of the first
dark fringe from the central maximum on the screen.
λ = 5.40 × 102 nm = 5.40 × 10-7 m , D = 0.80 m , a = 1.1 x 10-5 m , △y = ?,
nλD 1 × 5.40×10−7 × 0.80 0.80 × 5.40 × 10−7
yn = = = = 3.9 × 10−2 m = 3.9 cm
a 1.1×10−5 1.1 × 10−5

Statement: The first dark fringe is 3.9 cm from the central maximum.

2.Would the central maximum in No.1 be wider or narrower if the slit and the screen were
submerged in water?
If the fringes are measured in water, the firnge width will be narrower.
Because the wavelength of water is short. Thus, the fringe will decrease.
Dλ
yn =
a

3.Light with a wavelength of 670 nm is incident on a slit of width 12 mm and produces a

diffraction pattern on a screen located 30.0 cm behind the slit. (a) Calculate the angular width and
the absolute width, in centimetres, of the central maximum. (b) Calculate the distance between
the first and second minima. (c) Determine the distance between the second and third maxima.
Compare this answer to your answer in ‘b’. Does this answer make sense? Explain why or why
not?
(a)a sin θ1 = m λ
mλ 6.7 × 10−7
sin θ1 = = = 0.05583
a 1.2 × 10−5

θ1 = 3.2101 (two extra digits carried)

The width of the central maximum = 2 × position of the first minimum
Dλ 2 × 0.30 × 6.7 × 10−7
The width of the central maximum = 2 = = 0.0335 m (one extra digits
a 1.2 × 10−5
carried)
Statement: The angular width of the central maximum is 6.4, corresponding to 3.4 cm on the
screen.
(b) λ = 670 nm = 670 x10-7 m ,a = 12 m = 12 x 10-5 m ,D = 30.0 cm = 0.30 m
Required: distance between the first and second minima.
Analysis: This is half the width of the central maximum in (a).
distance between the first and second minima.
λD nλD
y = β = yn+1 – yn = (n+1) –
a a
Dλ 0.30 × 6.7 × 10−7
Since yn = = = 1.7 cm
a 1.2 × 10−5

Statement: The distance between the first and second minima is 1.7 cm.
(c) λ = 670 nm = 6.70 x10-7 m , a = 12 m = 12 x 10-5 m , D = 30.0 cm = 0.30 m
𝟏 λD 𝟏 λD
yn = (3+ ) − (2+ )
2 a 2 a
Dλ 0.30 × 6.7 × 10−7
Since yn = = = 1.7 cm
a 1.2 × 10−5

Statement: The distance between the second and third maxima is 1.7 cm. Answer (b) and (c) are
the same.
This makes sense because the distance between adjacent maxima is identical to the distance
between adjacent minima because the pattern is symmetrical.

4. Monochromatic light falls onto a slit 3.00 × 10–6 m wide. The angle between the first dark
fringes on either side of the central maximum is 25.0°. Calculate the wavelength of the light.
a = 3 x 10-6 m , 2θ = 25º , θ = 12.5º , m = 1 , λ = ?
a sin θ = mλ
a sinθ 3 ×10−6 × sin 12.5 °
λ= = = 6.47 x 10-7 m = 649 x 10-9 m = 649 nm
m 1

5. Helium-neon laser light, with a wavelength of 7.328 × 10–7 m, passes through a single slit
with a width of 43 mm onto a screen 3.0 m from the slit. Calculate the separation of adjacent
minima, other than those on either side of the central maximum.
λ = 7.328 x 10-7 m , a = 43μm = 43 x 10-6 m ,
distance between the first and second minima , D = 3.0 m,
λD nλD
the separation of adjacent minima , y = β = yn+1 – yn = (n+1) –
a a
Dλ 3× 7.328×10−7
Since yn = = = 50113 x 10-2 m =5.113 cm
a 4.3 ×10−5

6. In Young’s experiment, the distance between the two images of the source is 0.6 mm and the
distance between the source and the screen is 1.5 m. Given that the overall separation between 20
fringes on the screen is 3 cm, calculate the wavelength of light used.
Distance between images , d = 0.6 mm = 6  10-4 m.
Distance between source and screen , D = 1.5 m,
3
Fringe width = x = ( ) cm = 0.15 cm
20

Wavelength of light used = λ =?

λD
The fringe width is given by x=
d
xd 1.5  10  6  10
-3 -3
λ= = = 6  10-7 m = 6000  10-10 = 6000 Å
D 1.5

Wavelength of light used is 6000 Å.

7.Calculate the angle for the third-order maximum of 580 nm wavelength yellow light falling on
double slits separated by 0.100 mm.
m = 3, λ = 580 nm = 580 x 10-9 m , d = 01 mm =1 x10-4 m , θ = ?
d sinθ = mλ
mλ 3 × 580 × 10−9 )
θ = sin-1( ) = sin-1( = 0.997
d 1 × 10−4

8.What is the separation between two slits for which 610 nm orange light has its first maximum
at an angle of 30.0º?
θ = 30.0º, m = 1, λ = 610 nm = 610 × 10−9 m, and d = ?
d sinθ = mλ
mλ 1 × 610 × 10−9
d= = = 1.22 x 10-6 m = 1.22 m
sin θ sin 30°

9. What is the wavelength of light falling on double slits separated by 2.00 μm if the third-order
maximum is at an angle of 60.0º?
m = 3, and θ = 60°, d = 2 μm = 2 x 10-6 m , λ = ?
d sin θ = mλ
d sin θ 2.00 × 10−6 × sin 60°
λ = = = 577.4 x 10-9= 577.4 nm
m 3

10.What is the highest-order maximum for 400 nm light falling on double slits separated by 25.0
μm?
λ = 400 nm = 400x 10-9 m
d =25 μm = 25 x 10-6 m
m=?
To be highest order, θ = 90°,
d sin θ = mλ
d sin θ 25 × 10−6 × sin 90°
m= = = 62.5
λ 400 × 10−9

The highest order is 62.