SRI GURU HARKRISHAN PUBLIC SCHOOL,

PATHANKOT

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Interference Of Light

By: Vivek Gumbel | XII–B (N.Med) | Year 2019-20 | Roll No:______________________

 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that VIVEK GUMBEL, a student of class XII-B

has successfully completed the research on the below mentioned
project under the guidance of MR. DEEPAK (Subject Teacher)
during the year 2019-20 in partial fulfillment of physics practical
examination conducted by AISSCE, New Delhi.

___________________ __________________
Signature of External Examiner Signature of Physics Teacher

PG. 1
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people have best

owned upon me their blessings and heart pledged support, this time I am
utilizing to thank all the people who have been concerned with this project.

Primarily I would thank god for being able to complete this project with
success. Then I would thank my principal Mrs. Poonam Rampal & physics
teacher Mr. Deepak, whose valuable guidance has been the one that helped
me patch this project & make it successful. His suggestions & his instructions
have served as the major contributor towards the completion of the project.

Then I would like to thank my parents who have helped me with their
valuable suggestions & guidance that has been helpful in various phases of
the completion of the project.

Last but not the least, I would like to thank my classmates, who have helped
me a lot.

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 INDEX

1. OBJECTIVE (AIM) OF THE PROJECT

2. THEORY
3. EXPERIMENT
4. INTERFERENCE PATTERNS
5. DERIVATION
6.OBSERVATIONS
7. GRAPH
8.COMDITIONS
9.BIBLIOGRAPHY

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 OBJECTIVE:

 To observe the interference pattern by performing

Double Slit Experiment.
 To derive the expression for fringe width.
 To draw the intensity vs. path difference graph.

PG. 4
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 b/w 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.

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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)

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Thus, the resultant wave is a harmonic wave of amplitude
A.
Squaring (4) and (5) and adding
We get: A = √(a2 + b2 + 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)

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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)

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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.
Path difference b/w the 2 waves reaching the point
should be an odd integral multiple of half the
wavelength.
So,
Amin= (a-b)

PG. 9
DERIVATION:
Expression for Fringe Width in Interference:
Looking at Figure 2,
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]

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 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 ---------(14)

Comparison shows that dark interference fringes are situated in

b/w bright interference fringes and vice-versa.
Separation b/w the centers of 2 consecutive bright fringes is the
width of the dark fringe.
β = xn – xn-1 = nλD/d- (n-1)λD/d
β= λD/d ---------(15)
Similarly, separation b/w the centers 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 -------------(16)
So, all bright and dark fringes are of equal width.

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OBSERVATIONS:

Distance b/w Slit Fringe

Wavelength
S.No. Screen & Source Distance Width
λ (cm)
D (cm) D (cm) β (cm)

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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:

IMAX α (RMAX)2 α (a+b)2 = Constant
Hence, all Bright Interference bands have same intensity.

At sites of Destructive Interference:

IMAX α (RMAX)2 α (a+b)2 = Constant= ZERO (at a=b)
Hence, all Dark Interference bands have same (zero) intensity.

Intensity VS Path Difference Graph

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CONDITIONS:
(FOR SUSTAINED INTERFERENCE)

1. The 2 sources of light must be coherent i.e. they emit continuous

light waves either of same wavelength or of same frequency,
which have either same phase or 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.

Interference Pattern Schematic Diagram

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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 Physics N.C.E.R.T Textbook

 www.google.com
 www.wikipedia.org

PG. 15