20 Engineering Physics

broad source of light is used to illuminate a thin film, the light reflected from each part of the film reaches the
eye placed in a fixed position, as shown in Fig. 1.17(b). Hence, one can seen the entire film simultaneously
by employing an extended source of light.
1.10.1.2 Non-uniform Thickness Film (Wedge Shaped Film)
Consider two plane surfaces OM and OM¢ inclined at an angle q enclosing a wedge shaped air film of
increasing thickness, as shown in Fig 1.18. A beam of monochromatic light is incident on the upper surface
of the film and the interference occurs between the rays reflected at its upper and lower surfaces. The
interference occurs between the reflected rays BK and DL, both of which are obtained from the same incident
ray of light AB.
K
E L

M¢
i D
r
A i (r + q)
i
B r+q t
N (r + q)

q r
O M
C H

q (r + q)

I¢
I
Figure 1.18

The path difference between the two reflected rays

D = [BC + CD]in film – [BE]in air
D = m(BC + CD) – BE
Q CD = CI
D = m(BC + CI) – BE
= mBI – BE
= m(BN + NI) – BE (i)
In right angled DBED,
BE
sin i = (ii)
BD