Interference Numericals

1. A parallel beam of light of wavelength 5890A is incident on a glass plate having refractive
index μ = 1.5 such that the angle of refraction in the plate is 60 0. Calculate the smallest
thickness of glass plate which will appear dark by reflected light.
Formula: 2𝝁𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒓 = 𝒏𝝀
[Ans.: smallest thickness taking n =1 is 0.3926µm]

2. Fringes of equal thickness are observed in a thin glass of refractive index 1.52. The fringe
spacing is 0.1 mm, wavelength of light being used is 5893 A 0. Calculate the wedge angle.
𝝀
Formula: 𝜷 = [Ans.: wedge angle θ = 0.119deg = 39.96 secs]
𝟐𝝁𝜽

3. Find the thickness of the soap film of refractive index 1.33 which will appear yellow (λ
= 5893A0) in reflected light when it is exposed to white light at an angle of 45 0
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒊
Formula: 𝝁 = and 2𝝁𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒓 = 𝒏𝝀
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒓

[Ans.: thickness of soap film, t = 2.61 mm]

4. Newton’s rings are formed using light of wavelength 5896A in reflected light with a liquid
placed between plane and curved surfaces. The diameter of 7 th dark fringe is 0.4 cm and the
radius of curvature is 1.0 m. Evaluate the refractive index of liquid.
𝟒𝒏𝝀𝑹
Formula: 𝑫𝟐𝒏 = [Ans.: refractive index of liquid, µ = 1.03]
𝝁

5. White light falls normally on a soap film of 4 x 10(-7) m thickness. If the refractive index is
1.33 which wavelength is reflected strongly in the visible region?

Formula: 2𝝁𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒓 = (𝟐𝒏 + 𝟏)𝝀/𝟐

[Ans.: Wavelengths 7093A and 4256A fall in visible spectrum and are reflected
strongly]

6. In a Newton’s ring experiment, the diameter of 10 th dark ring due to wavelength 6000 Å
in air is 0.5 cm. Find the radius of curvature of the lens.
Formula: r = √𝑛𝜆𝑅 [Ans.: R = 104 cm.]

7. A drop of volume 0.2 cc is dropped on a surface of a tankof water of area 1 sq. meter.
The film spreads uniformly over the whole surface and white light which is incident
normally, is observed through a spectrometer. The spectrum is seen to contain one dark
band whose center has wavelength 5.5 x 10-5 cm in air. Find the refractive index of oil.
Formula: 2𝝁𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒓 = 𝒏𝝀, find t using area and volume [Ans. 1.375]
8. White light is incident on a soap film at an angle sin-1 (4/5) and the reflected light on
examination by a spectroscope shows dark bands. Two consecutive dark bands correspond
to wavelengths 6.1 x 10-5 and 6.0 x 10-5 cm coincide. If the refractive index of the film is
4/3, calculate its thickness.
Formula: 2𝝁𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒓 = 𝒏𝝀 & Snell’s law [Ans. 0.0017 cm]

9. A Newton’s ring arrangement is used with a source emitting two wavelengths 𝜆1 = 6 x 10-5
cm and 4.5 x 10-5 cm and it is found that the nth dark ring due to 𝜆1 coincides with (n +
1)th dark ring for 𝜆2. If the radius of curvature of the curved surface is 90 cm, find the
diameter of nth dark ring.
Formula: Dn2 = 4nR 𝝀 [Ans. 0.254 cm]

10. Light containing two wavelengths 𝜆1 and 𝜆2 falls normally on a plano-convex lens of radius
of curvature R resting on a glass plate. If the nth dark ring due to 𝜆1 coincides with (n + 1)th
dark ring for 𝜆2, prove that the radius of nth dark ring of 𝜆1 is
𝜆1 𝜆2 𝑅
𝜆1 − 𝜆2

11. Newton’s rings are formed by light reflected normally from convex lens of radius of
curvature of 90 cm and a glass plate with liquid in between them. The diameter of n th dark
ring is 2.25 mm and that of (n + 9)th dark ring is 4.5 mm. Calculate the refractive index of
the liquid. Given λ = 6000 A0.
𝑫𝟐𝒏 𝒎 𝑫𝟐𝒏
Formula: R = [Ans.: refractive index of liquid, µ = 0.781]
𝟒𝒎𝝀𝝁

12. A soap film of 5 × 10-7 m thick is viewed at an angle of 350 to the normal. Find the
wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, which will be absent from the reflected light.
Given the refractive index of the film = 1.33
Ans: The absent wavelengths are 6000 Å and 4000 Å.

13. In a Newton’s ring experiment, the diameter of the 4th and 12th dark rings are 0.400 cm and
0.700 cm respectively. Determine the diameter of 20 th dark ring.
Ans: D20 = 0.906 cm

14. In a Newton’s rings experiment the diameter of 10th ring changes from 1.40 to 1.27 cm
when a drop of liquid is introduced between the lens and the glass plate. Calculate the
refractive index of the liquid.
 Ans: µ = 1.215

15. A glass microscope lens (µ=1.5) is coated with magnesium fluoride (µ f = 1.38) film to
increase the transmission of normally incident light λ = 5800 Å. What minimum film
thickness should be deposited on the lens?
Ans: tmin = 1051 Å.

16. Light of wavelength 6000 A falls normally on a thin wedge shaped film of refractive index
1.4, forming fringes that are 2 mm apart. Find the angle of the wedge.
Ans: θ = 1.07 x 10-4 radian

17. Interference fringes are produced by monochromatic light falling normally on a wedge
shaped film of cellophane of refractive index 1.4. If angle of wedge is 20 seconds of an arc
and the distance between successive fringes is 0.25 cm, calculate the wavelength of light.
Ans: Hint: λ = 2 θ µβ
= 2 x 20 xπ x 1.4 x 0.25 / 60 X 60 X 180
λ = 6790 A

18. In Newton ‘s rings pattern the diameter of 61″ bright ring is 0.5 cm. The wavelength of the
light used is 4590 A. Light enters the film with angle of incidence of 39°. Calculate the
radius of curvature of lens.
Ans: Hint: 2µt cos r = (2n+1) λ/2 and t =r2/2R
Then
rn2 = (2n+1)λR/ 2µ cos r
dn2 = 2(2n+1) λR/ µ cos r
R = 193.66 cm.

19. In an experiment of Newtons rings with light of wavelength 600 nm, a lens with refractive index
of 1.5 and radius of curvature of 2.5 m is used. Determine the radius of fifth bright fringe.
Ans. [2.87 mm]

20. In a Newtons rings experiment the diameter of 10 th dark ring changes from 1.40 cm to 1.27 cm,
after Introduction of a liquid in between glass plate and lens. Calculate refractive index of the
liquid.
Ans. [1.215]

Diffraction Numericals
1. In a single slit Fraunhofer diffraction experiment using monochromatic light of 589.3 nm
wavelength and a slit width of 6 µm, calculate the angular separation between first order
minima on either side of central maximum.
Formula: dsinθ = nλ [Ans.: angular separation θ = 5.63deg]

2. A light of 500 nm wavelength is incident normally on a single slit. The first minimum of
Fraunhofer diffraction pattern is observed to lie at a distance of 5 x 10 (-3) m from the central
maximum on a screen placed at a distance of 2 m away from the slit. What is the width of
the slit?
Formula: dsinθ = nλ [Ans.: slit width, a = 50µm]

3. In Fraunhofer diffraction due to narrow slit, a screen is placed 1 m away from the lens to
obtain the pattern. If the slit width is 0.1 x 10(-3) and the first minimum lies 5.0 x 10(-3) m on
either side of the central maximum, find the wavelength of light. If the source is replaced by
another light for which the first minimum lies at 5.89 x 10 (-3) m, find the wavelength of light.
Formula: dsinθ = nλ , sinθ = x/D [Ans.: λ1 =500nm and λ2 = 589nm]

4. A parallel beam of monochromatic light is allowed to be incident on a plane grating having

6000 lines/cm and second order spectral line is found to be diffracted through 46 0. Calculate
the wavelength of light used.
Formula: dsinθ = nλ , d=1/N, N= no. of lines/cm ruled on the grating
[Ans.: λ =599.4nm]
0
5. Monochromatic light of λ = 6560A falls normally on the grating 2 cm wide. The first order
spectrum is produced at an angle 190 from the normal. What is the total number of lines on
the grating?
Formula: dsinθ = nλ , d=1/N, N= no. of lines/cm ruled on the grating
[Ans.: Number of lines on grating, N = 9925.85 per 2 cm]
6. A plane grating has 15000 lines per inch. Find the angle of separation of the 5048A 0 and
5016 A0 lines of helium in second order spectrum.
[Ans.: angular separation θ1 – θ2 = 0.26deg]

Formula: dsinθ = nλ , d=1/N, N= no. of lines/cm ruled on the grating

7. Calculate the angles at which the first dark band and the next bright band are formed in
the Fraunhoffer diffraction pattern of a slit 0.3 mm wide. (λ = 589nm)
Formula: dsinθ = nλ [Ans: 𝜭 = 10 mins.]

8. A plane diffraction grating has the value of grating constant equal to 15 × 10 -4 cm.
Calculate the position of the third order maximum for λ = 2.4 × 10-4
 Formula: dsinθ = nλ [Ans: 25.280 ]
9. A grating has 15 cm of the surface ruled with 6000 lines / cm. what is the resolving
power of the grating in the first order?
Formula: R.P = R = mN. [ Ans: 9 × 104]

10. In a grating spectrum, which spectral line in 4th order will overlap with 3rd order line of
5491 Å ?
Formula: nλ1 = (n+1) λ2 [Ans: 4096 A0]

11. Calculate the angles at which the first dark band and the next bright band are formed in the
Fraunhoffer diffraction pattern of a slit 0.3 mm wide (λ = 5890 Å)
Ans: θ = 60.7mins. θ1 = 10 mins.

12. A plane transmission grating has 15,000 lines per inch. Find resolving power and the smallest
wavelength difference that can be resolved with light of wavelength 6000 A0
in the second order.

Ans. [R. P. = 30,000 and smallest wavelength interval dλ= 0.2 A 0 ]

13. How many orders will be visible when a grating having 2620 lines per inch is incident with light
of wavelength 5000 A 0.

Ans. [ 19 ]

14. A parallel beam of light containing doublet of wavelengths 5890 A 0 and 5896 A0 is incident on
a plane transmission grating having 6000 l/cm. Determine the angular separation in second
order.

Ans. [ 0.06o ]

15. Light beam from a sodium lamp (λ = 5893 A0) is a doublet of 6 A0. Calculate the minimum
number of lines needed on the grating to resolve the doublet in the third order.
Ans. [In I order N = 982 and In III order N = 327]

Polarization Numericals
1. A ray of light is incident on a surface of a water of refractive index 1.33. If the reflected
light is completely plane polarized, calculate the angle of polarization and hence angle of
incidence and refraction.
2. Two polarizing sheets have polarizing directions parallel so that the intensity of the
transmitted light is maximum. Through what angle must either sheet be turned if the
intensity is to drop by half?
3. A polarizer and an analyser are parallel so that the maximum light is transmitted. When the
analyser is rotated through 30 0, 40 0, 600 and 90 0 to what percentage of its maximum value
is the intensity of transmitted light reduced?
4. Calculate the specific rotation of the sugar solution if the plane of polarization of plane
polarized light is rotated through 6.50 in passing through a length of 2.0 dm of sugar solution
of 5% concentration.
5. It is desired to use a plate of glass to obtain polarized light. If the R.I of glass is 1.5, what
is polarizing angle?
Formula: µ = tan 𝜭 [Ans: 𝜭 = 56.31 degree].

6. The critical angle of incidence for total reflection in case of water is 48 0. What is
the polarization angle? What is the angle of refraction corresponding to the polarization
angle?
Formula: µ = 1/sin𝜭 and µ = tan 𝜭
[Ans: 𝜭 = 53.4 degree, Angle of refraction r = 36039`]
7. Unpolarized light falls on two polarizing sheets placed one on top of the other. What
must be the angle between the characteristic directions of the sheets if the intensity of the
transmitted light is one-third intensity of the incident beam?
[Ans: 𝜭=35.3 degree]
8.Light of intensity I0 is incident on a polarizer. What is the intensity of the resultant beam
if 1) Incident light is unpolarised? 2) Incident light is PPL with it’s electric field making an
angle of 300 with the axis of polarizer?
Formula: Use Malu’s law [Ans: 1) I0 / 2 2) I = ¾ I0 ]

9. Sunlight is reflected from a calm lake. The reflected light is 100%polarized at a certain
instant. What is the angle between the sun and horizon at that instant? The refractive index
of water is 1.33.
Ans: The angle between the sun and the horizon = 36.94 0.

10. The angle of polarisation for flint glass is found to 62°24′. Calculate its refractive index.
Ans: Hint: µ =tan ip
 µ =tan 620 24 , =1.912

11. A ray of light is incident on a glass surface of refractive index 1.732 at polarizing angle.
Calculate the angle of refraction of the ray.
Ans: Tan ip =1.732 ,ip +r =900
Ip =tan -1 (1.732) =60 0

12. Unpolarized light beam is incident on two polarizing sheets placed one top of the other.
What must be the angle between their characteristic directions, if intensity of
transmitted light is one third of intensity of the incident beam.
Ans. [+/- 35.26o or +/- 144.74o]

13. A 20 cm long glass tube containing sugar solution rotates the plane of polarization by 11 o , if the
specific rotation of sugar is 66 units find the concentration of solution.
Ans. [0.0833 gm/cc]

Fiber Optics Numericals

1. Calculate the numerical aperture and acceptance angle of an optical fibre.
Given n1 =1.55, n2 = 1.50

2. A fibre cable has an acceptance angle of 300 and a core index of refraction of 1.4. Calculate
the refractive index of the cladding.

3. Calculate the refractive indices of the core and cladding material of a fibre from following
data. Numerical aperture = 0.22 and fractional difference of indices = 0.012.

4. In an optical fiber, the core material has R.I 1.43 and R.I of clad material is 1.4. Find the
propagation angle.
Formula: cos 𝜭 = n2 / n1 [Ans: 𝜭 = 11.80 ]
5. In an optical fiber, the core material has R.I 1.6 and R.I. of clad material is 1.3. What is the
value of critical angle? Also calculate the value of angle of acceptance cone.
Formula: 1. Sin Φ = n2 / n1 Critical angle Φ = 54.30
2. Acceptance angle = 𝜭 = sin 𝑛 −𝑛
3. Angle of acceptance cone = 2𝜭=1370
6. Calculate the numerical power aperture and acceptance angle of an optical fiber from
following data.
R. I. of core = 1.55, R.I. of clad = 1.50
Formula: NA = 𝑛 − 𝑛 = 0.391

Acceptance angle = 𝜭 = sin 𝑛 −𝑛 = 23.02𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒

7. A fiber cable has an acceptance angle of 300 and a core index of refraction of 1.4.
Calculate the R.I. of cladding.
Formula sin𝜭 = 𝑛 − 𝑛 [Ans: n2 = 1.308]

8. Calculate the angle of acceptance of a given optical fiber, if the R.I. of the core and the
cladding are 1.563 and 1.498 respectively.
Formula: sin𝜭 = 𝑛 − 𝑛 = 0.4461

9. A step index fibre is made with a core of R.I 1.52, a diameter of 29 micrometer and a
fractional difference index of 0.0007. It is operated at a wavelength of 1.3 micrometer.
Find the V-number.
Formula: 𝑉 = 𝑛 √2𝛥 = 4.049

10. A fiber is made of glass with refractive index 1.55 and is claded with another glass with a
refractive index 1.51. The fiber has a core diameter of 50 μm and is used at a
wavelength of 0.8 μm. Determine i) numerical aperture ii) acceptance angle iii) V- no.
and iv) approximate number of modes supported.

Ans. [NA = .35, Acceptance angle = 20.47°, V No.= 68.64, Nm= 2356]

11. In a Step index fiber the ref. index of core is 1.52 and its radius is 14.5 µm. The fractional
difference index is 0.0007 and it is operated at a wavelength of 2.6 µm. Find V- No. and
No. of modes supported.

Ans. [V= 2.0475, since it is less then 2.405 it is single mode fiber, Nm= 1 ]

12. An optical fiber has NA of 0.20 and a cladding refractive index of 1.59. Determine the
acceptance angle for the fiber in water.

Ans. [θ0= 8.62°]