Diffraction and Interference

1. The diagram shows the diffraction pattern for light passing through a [1 mark]
single slit.

What is
wavelength of light
width of slit
A. 0.01
B. 0.02
C. 1
D. 2

2. Monochromatic light of wavelength λ passes through a single-slit of width [1 mark]

b and produces a diffraction pattern on a screen. Which combination of
changes to b and λ will cause the greatest decrease in the width of the central
maximum?
 Monochromatic light of wavelength λ is normally incident on a diffraction grating.
The diagram shows adjacent slits of the diffraction grating labelled V, W and X.
Light waves are diffracted through an angle θ to form a second-order diffraction
maximum. Points Z and Y are labelled.

3a. State the phase difference between the waves at V and Y. [1 mark]

3b. State, in terms of λ, the path length between points X and Z. [1 mark]

3c. The separation of adjacent slits is d. Show that for the second-order [1 mark]
diffraction maximum 2λ = d sin θ.
3d. Monochromatic light of wavelength 633 nm is normally incident on a [4 marks]
diffraction grating. The diffraction maxima incident on a screen are
detected and their angle θ to the central beam is determined. The graph shows
the variation of sin θ with the order n of the maximum. The central order
corresponds to n = 0.

Determine a mean value for the number of slits per millimetre of the grating.
 State the effect on the graph of the variation of sin θ with n of:

3e. using a light source with a smaller wavelength. [1 mark]

3f. increasing the distance between the diffraction grating and the screen. [1 mark]

4. White light is incident normally on separate diffraction gratings X and Y. Y [1 mark]

has a greater number of lines per metre than X. Three statements about
differences between X and Y are
I. adjacent slits in the gratings are further apart for X than for Y
II. the angle between red and blue light in a spectral order is greater in X than in
Y
III. the total number of visible orders is greater for X than for Y.
Which statements are correct?
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

5. Light of frequency 500 THz is incident on a single slit and forms a [1 mark]
diffraction pattern. The first diffraction minimum forms at an angle of 2.4
x 10–3 rad to the central maximum. The frequency of the light is now changed to
750 THz. What is the angle between the first diffraction minimum and the central
maximum?
A. 1.6 × 10–3 rad
B. 1.8 × 10–3 rad
C. 2.4 × 10–3 rad
D. 3.6 × 10–3 rad
6. Light of wavelength λ is normally incident on a diffraction grating of [1 mark]
spacing 3λ. What is the angle between the two second-order maxima?
A. sin−1 2
3

B. sin −1 43

C. 2 sin −1 23

D. >90° so no second orders appear

7. In a Young’s double-slit experiment, the distance between fringes is too [1 mark]

small to be observed.
What change would increase the distance between fringes?
A. Increasing the frequency of light
B. Increasing the distance between slits
C. Increasing the distance from the slits to the screen
D. Increasing the distance between light source and slits
 Monochromatic coherent light is incident on two parallel slits of negligible width a
distance d apart. A screen is placed a distance D from the slits. Point M is directly
opposite the midpoint of the slits.

Initially the lower slit is covered and the intensity of light at M due to the upper slit
alone is 22 W m-2. The lower slit is now uncovered.

8a. Deduce, in W m -2, the intensity at M. [3 marks]

8b. P is the first maximum of intensity on one side of M. The following data [2 marks]
are available.
d = 0.12 mm
D = 1.5 m
Distance MP = 7.0 mm
Calculate, in nm, the wavelength λ of the light.

The width of each slit is increased to 0.030 mm. D, d and λ remain the same.

8c. Suggest why, after this change, the intensity at P will be less than that at [1 mark]
M.

8d. Show that, due to single slit diffraction, the intensity at a point on the [2 marks]
screen a distance of 28 mm from M is zero.
9. The graph shows the variation with diffraction angle of the intensity of [1 mark]
light when monochromatic light is incident on four slits.

The number of slits is increased keeping the width and the separation of the slits
unchanged.
Three possible changes to the pattern are
I. the separation of the primary maxima increases
II. the intensity of the primary maxima increases
III. the width of the primary maxima decreases.
Which of the possible changes are correct?

A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III
 The diagram shows the position of the principal lines in the visible spectrum of
atomic hydrogen and some of the corresponding energy levels of the hydrogen
atom.

10a. Determine the energy of a photon of blue light (435nm) emitted in the [3 marks]
hydrogen spectrum.

10b. Identify, with an arrow labelled B on the diagram, the transition in the [1 mark]
hydrogen spectrum that gives rise to the photon with the energy in (a)(i).
10c. Explain your answer to (a)(ii). [2 marks]
 A low-pressure hydrogen discharge lamp contains a small amount of deuterium
gas in addition to the hydrogen gas. The deuterium spectrum contains a red line
with a wavelength very close to that of the hydrogen red line. The wavelengths for
the principal lines in the visible spectra of deuterium and hydrogen are given in
the table.

Light from the discharge lamp is normally incident on a diffraction grating.

10d. The light illuminates a width of 3.5 mm of the grating. The deuterium [2 marks]
and hydrogen red lines can just be resolved in the second-order
spectrum of the diffraction grating. Show that the grating spacing of the
diffraction grating is about 2 × 10–6 m.
10e. Calculate the angle between the first-order line of the red light in the [3 marks]
hydrogen spectrum and the second-order line of the violet light in the
hydrogen spectrum.

10f. The light source is changed so that white light is incident on the [3 marks]
diffraction grating. Outline the appearance of the diffraction pattern
formed with white light.
11. Monochromatic light is incident on 4 rectangular, parallel slits. The first [1 mark]
principal maximum is observed at an angle θ to the direction of the
incident light. The number of slits is increased to 8 each having the same width
and spacing as the first 4.
Three statements about the first principal maximum with 8 slits are
I. the angle at which it is observed is greater than θ
II. its intensity increases
III. its width decreases.
Which statements are correct?
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

12. A beam of monochromatic light is incident on a diffraction grating of N [1 mark]

lines per unit length. The angle between the first orders is θ1.

What is the wavelength of the light?

sin θ 1
A.
N
B. N sin θ1

C. N sin( 2 )
θ1

sin( 21 )
θ

D.
N
 A beam of coherent monochromatic light from a distant galaxy is used in an optics
experiment on Earth.

The beam is incident normally on a double slit. The distance between the slits is
0.300 mm. A screen is at a distance D from the slits. The diffraction angle θ is
labelled.

13a. A series of dark and bright fringes appears on the screen. Explain how a [3 marks]
dark fringe is formed.
 A beam of coherent monochromatic light from a distant galaxy is used in an optics
experiment on Earth.

The beam is incident normally on a double slit. The distance between the slits is
0.300 mm. A screen is at a distance D from the slits. The diffraction angle θ is
labelled.

13b. Outline why the beam has to be coherent in order for the fringes to be [1 mark]
visible.

13c. The wavelength of the beam as observed on Earth is 633.0 nm. The [2 marks]
separation between a dark and a bright fringe on the screen is 4.50 
mm. Calculate D.
 The graph of variation of intensity with diffraction angle for this experiment is
shown.

13d. Calculate the angular separation between the central peak and the [3 marks]
missing peak in the double-slit interference intensity pattern. State your
answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.

13e. Deduce, in mm, the width of one slit. [2 marks]

13f. The wavelength of the light in the beam when emitted by the galaxy [2 marks]
was 621.4 nm.
Explain, without further calculation, what can be deduced about the relative
motion of the galaxy and the Earth.

14a. Monochromatic light from two identical lamps arrives on a screen. [1 mark]

The intensity of light on the screen from each lamp separately is I0.
On the axes, sketch a graph to show the variation with distance x on the screen of
the intensity I of light on the screen.
14b. Monochromatic light from a single source is incident on two thin, [3 marks]
parallel slits.

The following data are available.

Slit separation = 0.12mm

Wavelength = 680nm
Distance to screen = 3.5m
The intensity I of light at the screen from each slit separately is I0. Sketch, on the
axes, a graph to show the variation with distance x on the screen of the intensity
of light on the screen for this arrangement.

14c. The slit separation is increased. Outline one change observed on the [1 mark]
screen.
15. Monochromatic light is incident on two identical slits to produce an [1 mark]
interference pattern on a screen. One slit is then covered so that no light
emerges from it. What is the change to the pattern observed on the screen?
A. Fewer maxima will be observed.
B. The intensity of the central maximum will increase.
C. The outer maxima will become narrower.
D. The width of the central maximum will decrease.

Yellow light from a sodium lamp of wavelength 590 nm is incident at normal

incidence on a double slit. The resulting interference pattern is observed on a
screen. The intensity of the pattern on the screen is shown.

16a. Explain why zero intensity is observed at position A. [2 marks]

–2
16b. The distance from the centre of the pattern to A is 4.1 x 10–2 m. The [2 marks]
distance from the screen to the slits is 7.0 m.

Calculate the width of each slit.

16c. Calculate the separation of the two slits. [2 marks]

 The double slit is replaced by a diffraction grating that has 600 lines per
millimetre. The resulting pattern on the screen is shown.

16d. State and explain the differences between the pattern on the screen [3 marks]
due to the grating and the pattern due to the double slit.

16e. The yellow light is made from two very similar wavelengths that [3 marks]
produce two lines in the spectrum of sodium. The wavelengths are
588.995 nm and 589.592 nm. These two lines can just be resolved in the second-
order spectrum of this diffraction grating. Determine the beam width of the light
incident on the diffraction grating.
17. For fringes to be observed in a double-slit interference experiment, the [1 mark]
slits must emit waves that are coherent.
What conditions are required for the frequency of the waves and for the phase
difference between the waves so that the waves are coherent?

18. Blue light is incident on two narrow slits. Constructive interference takes [1 mark]
place along the lines labelled 1 to 5.

The blue light is now replaced by red light. What additional change is needed so
that the lines of constructive interference remain in the same angular positions?
A. Make the slits wider
B. Make the slits narrower
C. Move the slits closer together
D. Move the slits further apart

A student investigates how light can be used to measure the speed of a toy train.
 Light from a laser is incident on a double slit. The light from the slits is detected
by a light sensor attached to the train.
The graph shows the variation with time of the output voltage from the light
sensor as the train moves parallel to the slits. The output voltage is proportional
to the intensity of light incident on the sensor.

19a. Explain, with reference to the light passing through the slits, why a [3 marks]
series of voltage peaks occurs.
19b. The slits are separated by 1.5 mm and the laser light has a wavelength [1 mark]
of 6.3 x 10–7 m. The slits are 5.0 m from the train track. Calculate the
separation between two adjacent positions of the train when the output voltage is
at a maximum.

19c. Estimate the speed of the train. [2 marks]

A student investigates how light can be used to measure the speed of a toy train.

Light from a laser is incident on a double slit. The light from the slits is detected
by a light sensor attached to the train.
The graph shows the variation with time of the output voltage from the light
sensor as the train moves parallel to the slits. The output voltage is proportional
to the intensity of light incident on the sensor.
 As the train continues to move, the first diffraction minimum is observed when the
light sensor is at a distance of 0.13 m from the centre of the fringe pattern.

19d. Determine the width of one of the slits. [2 marks]

19e. Suggest the variation in the output voltage from the light sensor that [2 marks]
will be observed as the train moves beyond the first diffraction
minimum.
19f. In another experiment the student replaces the light sensor with a [2 marks]
sound sensor. The train travels away from a loudspeaker that is emitting
sound waves of constant amplitude and frequency towards a reflecting barrier.

The graph shows the variation with time of the output voltage from the sounds
sensor.

Explain how this effect arises.

20. Monochromatic light is incident on a double slit. Both slits have a finite [1 mark]
width. The light then forms an interference pattern on a screen some
distance away. Which graph shows the variation of intensity with distance from
the centre of the pattern?

21. Light of wavelength λ is incident normally on a diffraction grating that has [1 mark]
a slit separation of 72λ . What is the greatest number of maxima that can
be observed using this arrangement?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 7
D. 9

22. A single-slit diffraction experiment is performed using light of different [1 mark]

colours. The width of the central peak in the diffraction pattern is
measured for each colour. What is the order of the colours that corresponds to
increasing widths of the central peak?
A. red, green, blue
B. red, blue, green
C. blue, green, red
D. green, blue, red
23. In a double-slit interference experiment, the following intensity pattern is [1 mark]
observed for light of wavelength λ.

The distance between the slits is d. What can be deduced about the value of the
ratio λ and the effect of single-slit diffraction in this experiment?
d

24. Which of the following experiments provides evidence for the existence of [1 mark]
matter waves?
A. Scattering of alpha particles
B. Electron diffraction
C. Gamma decay
D. Photoelectric effect

Monochromatic light is incident normally on four thin, parallel, rectangular slits.

 The graph shows the variation with diffraction angle θ of the intensity of light I at
a distant screen.

I0 is the intensity of the light at the middle of the screen from one slit.

25a. Explain why the intensity of light at θ=0 is 16I0. [3 marks]

25b. The width of each slit is 1.0μm. Use the graph to [4 marks]
(i) estimate the wavelength of light.
(ii) determine the separation of two consecutive slits.
 25c. The arrangement is modified so that the number of slits becomes very [4 marks]
large. Their separation and width stay the same.
(i) State two changes to the graph on page 20 as a result of these modifications.
(ii) A diffraction grating is used to resolve two lines in the spectrum of sodium in
the second order. The two lines have wavelengths 588.995nm and 589.592nm.
Determine the minimum number of slits in the grating that will enable the two
lines to be resolved.

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