Assignment-4

Section-B29 & B30

Newton’s Rings & Michelson Interferometer:

1. With a neat diagram discuss the theory of formation of Newton’s rings in reflected light.
Prove that in reflected light :
a. The diameters of dark rings are proportional to the square roots of odd numbers.
b. The diameters of bright rings are proportional to the square roots of odd numbers.
2. Describe with necessary theory how Newton’s ring method can be used to :
a. Measure the wavelength of a monochromatic source.
b. Refractive index of a liquid.
c. Radius of curvature of the convex side of Plano-convex lens.
3. (i) Account for the perfect blackness of central spot in Newton’s rings.
(ii) Why Newton’s rings are circular in shape?
(iii)What will happen if White light is used in formation of Newton’s rings?
(iv) What will happen if the plane glass plate is replaced by a mirror or a silvered perfectly
reflecting plate?
(v) What happens to fringe width of Newton’s rings if red colour source is replaced by blue
colour?
(vi) Show that the width of the fringes in Newton’s ring decreases with increase in order of
the fringes.
(vii) Why radius of curvature in plano-convex lens is made large in Newton’s ring
experiment?
(viii) What do you mean by fringes of equal inclination & fringes of equal thickness?
4. With necessary diagram describe construction and working of Michelson interferometer.
Discuss how various types of fringes can formed in it.

Numericals:

1. Newton’s rings are formed using a lens of radius of curvature 100 cm. Calculate the diameter
of the 20th bright ring with λ=5900Å.
2. Newton’ rings are formed by light of wavelength 5431Å. Find the radius of curvature of the
lens if diameter of the 16th bright ring is 12.2mm.
3. In a Newton’s ring experiment with air film, the difference of squares of diameters of nth and
(n+10) th rings is 0.22cm2. On introducing a liquid between the lens and the plate, this value
changes to 0.16cm2. Calculate the refractive index of the liquid.
4. In a Newton’s ring experiment, it is observed that with light of λ=5890Å, the difference of
squares of diameters of successive dark rings is 0.12 cm2. What happens to the quantity if,
 (a) λ is changed to 4840Å.
(b) A liquid of µ=1.42 is introduced between the lens and glass.
(c) The radius of curvature of the Plano-convex lens is doubled.
5. Light containing two wavelengths λ1 and λ2 falls normally on a plano convex lens of radius
of curvature R, resting on a plane glass plate. If nth dark ring due to λ1 coincides with (n+1)th
dark ring due to λ2, prove that the radius of the nth dark ring of λ1 is 𝝀𝟏 𝝀𝟐 𝑹/ 𝝀𝟏 − 𝝀𝟐
6. A source of light emitting two wavelengths λ1=6000Å and λ2=4500Å is used in a normal set
up for Newton’s rings. 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 convex surface is 100cm, find the diameter of the
nth dark ring for λ2.
7. In Newton’s ring experiment, the diameter of 4th and 12th ring are 0.4 cm and 0.7 cm
respectively. Find the diameter of the 20th dark ring.

Diffraction
1. (i) What is diffraction? What condition you require to see diffraction effect prominently?
(ii) Outline Fresnel’s assumption for explanation of diffraction phenomena.
(iii) What are the types of diffraction? Distinguish them with suitable diagrams.
(iv) Outline the differences between diffraction and interference.
2. With necessary theory discuss the features of Fraunhofer diffraction pattern trough a single
slit when it is illuminated by a monochromatic light. Draw separately the intensity
distribution in Fraunhofer single slit diffraction pattern (i) with respect to angle of
diffraction, (ii) with respect to distance from the central maxima. Show that the relative
intensities of successive maxima is given by

Numerical:
1. A plane wavefront of wavelength 6000 Å incidents on a slit of width 9000 Å.
(i) Calculate the angular position of 1st and 3rd minima.
(ii) Obtain the angular width of central maxima and 2nd secondary maxima.
(iii) If the focal length of the lens used after the slit is 20 cm, calculate the linear width
of central maxima.
2. A single slit is illuminated by two wavelengths λ1 and λ2. The second minima of λ1 come
in place of 3rd minima of λ2. If λ2 = 400 nm, find the value of λ1.