This Week

 Waves
 Standing waves
Musical instruments, guitars, pianos, organs
 Interference of two waves
tuning a piano, color of oil films
 Polarisation
Why have polaroid sun glasses?
 Electromagnetic waves and telescopes
 How do we see color

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 1

 Periodic waves
One can propagate waves which are a single complicated
pulse e.g. an explosion or a complicated continuous wave
e.g. the wind. We will focus on regular repetitive waves

These waves have a pattern which repeats and the length of

one pattern is called the wavelength λ
The number of patterns which pass a point/second is called
the frequency f and if the time for one pattern to pass is T
then f = 1/T
v = λ/T = fλ
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 2
 Waves on a string
If we shake the end of a
rope we can send a wave
along the rope. The rope
must be under tension in
order for the wave to
propagate
v = √(F/μ)
F = TENSION
μ = MASS/UNIT LENGTH

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 3

 Standing waves
If two identical waves exist on
the same string but traveling in
opposite directions the result can
be standing waves in which some
points never have a deflection,
these are called nodes
Some points oscillate between
plus and minus the maximum
amplitude, these are called
antinodes.
Standing waves provide the
notes on musical instruments.
When a string is secured at both
ends and plucked or hit the
generated waves will travel along
the string and be reflected and
set up standing waves.

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 4

 Musical notes
Each end of the string must be a node
so the possible standing waves must
be multiples of λ/2
Fundamental f = v/λ = v/2L
2nd Harmonic f = v/λ = v/L
3rd Harmonic f = v/λ = 3v/2L
Musical sound is a mixture of
harmonics modified by the body of the
instrument.
v = √(F/μ) so a piano or a violin
is tuned by changing the tension
in the string
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 5
 Closed organ pipe

Node at one end and an

antinode at the other
Fundamental f = v/4L
2nd Harmonic f = 3v/4L
3rd Harmonic f = 5v/4L
The velocity of sound in air is
v = 340m/s

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 6

 Beats
If two waves have slightly different
frequencies then the sum has a
frequency which is f1 – f2.
The human ear can detect beats
and this is used to tune an
instrument.
For example using a tuning fork at
a known frequency and adjusting
a piano string until no beats heard
f = f1 – f 2

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 7

 Doppler effect

The Doppler effect is the

change in frequency of a
wave when the source and
observer are moving.
As the source is
approaching the frequency
increases and if it is
receding the frequency
decreases
h
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/class/applets/phe/dopplereff.htm
t
08/04/22 t Physics 214 Fall 2011 8

p
 Sonic boom
Sonic boom
At each point on the path the
sound wave expands radially
and they all combine along a
single wave front which is a
pressure wave causing us to
hear the boom

http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/airplane/airplane.html

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 9

 Summary of Chapter 15
v = λ/T = fλ
Transverse or longitudinal

Standing waves
Fundamental f = v/λ = v/2L
2nd Harmonic f = v/λ = v/L
3rd Harmonic f = v/λ = 3v/2L

Fundamental f = v/4L
2nd Harmonic f = 3v/4L
3rd Harmonic f = 5v/4L

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 10

 Sound effects
Doppler effect
f increases as sound

approaches

Sonic boom Beats f = f1 – f2

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 11

 1S-13 Slinky on Stand
Creating longitudinal compression waves in a slinky

What happens
when you pull back
and release one
end of the slinky ?

THE SLINKY TRIES TO RETURN TO EQUILIBRIUM. BUT INERTIA

CAUSE THE LINKS TO PASS BEYOND THE EQUILIBRIUM POINT AND
THIS CREATES A COMPRESSION. THUS, BOTH A RESTORING
FORCE (BACK TO EQUILIBRIUM) AND INERTIA PLAY KEY ROLES IN
THE TRANSMISSION OF THE WAVE.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 12
 1S-41 Standing Waves in Rope
Creating transverse standing waves on heavy cable

How might we
create different
wave patterns
on the cable ?

How is this
related to
tuning a
guitar ?
BY ADJUSTING THE SPEED OF THE JIGSAW OR THE TENSION IN THE
CORD, DIFFERENT STANDING WAVE PATTERNS CAN BE GENERATED
BETWEEN THE FIXED ENDS. THOUGH THE WAVELENGTH OF THE
STANDING WAVE IS FIXED BY THE LENGTH BETWEEN THE FIXED
POINTS, THE FREQUENCY DEPENDS ON THE TENSION IN THE CABLE.
YOU TUNE A GUITAR BY CHANGING THIS TENSION.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 13
 4B-01 Standing Waves in a Gas
Effects of acoustic standing wave on air pressure
What happens
when an acoustic
standing wave is
introduced in the
tube ?

The wave pattern indicates a pressure

non-uniformity within the tube.

STANDING WAVES ARE PRODUCED WHENEVER TWO

WAVES OF IDENTICAL FREQUENCY INTERFERE WITH
ONE ANOTHER WHILE TRAVELING OPPOSITE
DIRECTIONS ALONG THE SAME MEDIUM.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 14
 4B-13 Hoot Tubes (Resonance in Pipes)
Creating acoustic resonances in glass tubes with hot air

If the same heated

grid is used, why
do the different L’
tubes give off L
different sounds ?

Why does
1st Harmonic: λ = 2L , f = v/λ
horizontal tube
not emit sound ? Length of tube determines
resonant frequency
THE HOT AIR FROM THE HEATED GRID GENERATES A
DISTURBANCE THAT CAN BE THOUGHT OF AS “NOISE.”
THE RESONANT FREQUENCY OF THE PARTICULAR TUBE
DETERMINES WHICH COMPONENTS OF THIS NOISE ARE
AMPLIFIED.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 15
 4B-10 MONOCHORD

What is the purpose of

tightening or
loosening the string ?
What role do the frets
play ? Chinese Zither

Real Musical Instrument

CHANGING TENSION OF THE STRING AFFECTS THE SPEED OF WAVE

PROPAGATION AND CHANGES THE FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY
THE BRIDGE ACTS AS A FRET THAT EFFECTIVELY CHANGES THE LENGTH OF
THE WIRE AND THE FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 16
 4B-14 Whirly Tubes
Forcing air thru a tube to create acoustic resonances

Why do different
tubes give off
different
sounds ? How
can we increase
the pitch emitted
from any one
whirly tube ?

AIR FLOWS UP THE TUBE DUE TO THE “CENTRIFUGAL”

EFFECT FROM ROTATION. THE SOUND RESULTS FROM
THE AIR PASSING OVER THE CORRUGATIONS IN THE
TUBE. FASTER WHIRLING RESULTS IN HIGHER
FREQUENCY OF SOUND (HIGHER PITCH).
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 17
 4B-11 Resonance

Two identical wooden have identical tuning forks attached at the center
of the top of the box. When the tuning fork is struck, the sound is
amplified by the resonance occurring in the box. When the one box is
placed such that its opening is a few centimeters from the other’s
opening, striking one tuning fork sets up a sympathetic vibration in the
other, which can be shown by having a ping-pong ball, attached to a
thread, lightly touch the second fork. The ping-pong ball will bounce back
and forth indicating that the fork is vibrating.

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 18

 4A-02 Sound Production with Rotating Slat
Making acoustic compressions with the Bull Roarer

How does the Bull

Roarer make a
Why could we
sound ? Is it a high
frequency or low
frequency acoustic
wave ?
THE ROTATING SLAT WHEN SWUNG IN A CIRCLE WILL
PRODUCE COMPRESSIONS AND RAREFACTIONS,
CREATING A LOW FREQUENCY SOUND.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 19
 4A-03 Sound Production in Bell Jar
Investigating the medium through which sound waves propagate

Where does the

sound go when
the bell jar is
evacuated ?

We know waves carry

energy and can do
work, so what happens
to the energy emitted
by the tone generator ?

AIR MOLECULES PROVIDE THE MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH

ACOUSTIC WAVES PROPAGATE. WHEN THAT MEDIUM IS
NOT PRESENT, SOUND CANNOT PROPAGATE.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 20
 4B-02 Standing Waves in a Vertical Air Column
Finding resonances of acoustic vibration in tube open at one end

How do we know that

we have found a
resonance ? How is
the length of the tube
that gives resonance
determined ?

L = n(λ/4), n is odd

STRONG RESONANCES OCCUR WHEN THE LENGTH OF THE AIR

COLUMN FORMS A STANDING WAVE SUCH THAT THERE IS A NODE
AT THE CLOSED (WATER)-END AND AN ANTINODE AT THE OPEN-END.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 21
 4C-01 Doppler Effect
Investigating change in sound due to the Doppler effect

At what point in
circular movement
does sound change ?
What is relative motion
between source and
listener at these points
?
WHEN THE SOURCE MOVES TOWARD (AWAY FROM)
LISTENER, THE FREQUENCY OF SOUND, OR PITCH,
INCREASES (DECREASES).
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 22
 4C-02 Doppler Effect II
Beat frequency, Doppler Effect and a virtual source

Virtual source, due to Wall

reflection off wall

Why do you hear

beats (interference
between two sound
waves of different
frequencies) ? v v

Because the speed of sound is finite, the virtual source can be thought
of as a time-delayed (out of phase) replica of actual source.

AN OBSERVER AT THE WALL WOULD NOTICE A FREQUENCY

INCREASE AND DECREASE AS THE ACTUAL SOURCE MOVED
TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE WALL. THE CHANGES IN
FREQUENCY CAUSE THE INTERFERENCE THAT CREATE THE BEATS.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 23
 Questions Chapter 15
Q2 Waves are traveling in an eastward direction on a lake. Is the
water in the lake necessarily moving in that direction?
No. The main motion is just up and down

Q3 A slowly moving engine bumps into a string of coupled

railroad cars standing on a siding. A wave pulse is transmitted
down the string of cars as each one bumps into the next one. Is
this wave transverse or longitudinal?

Longitudinal. The motion is back and forward in the direction of the wave

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 24

Q4 A wave can be propagated on a blanket by holding adjacent
corners in your hands and moving the end of the blanket up and
down. Is this wave transverse or longitudinal?

It is transverse the motion of the blanket is up and down

Q13 Suppose that we increase the tension in a rope, keeping the

frequency of oscillation of the end of the rope the same. What
effect does this have on the wavelength of the wave produced?

The increase in tension cause an increase in velocity so the

wavelength increases

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 25

Q20 If we increase the tension of a guitar string, what effect does
this have on the frequency and wavelength of the fundamental
standing wave formed on that string?
The fundamental wavelength is fixed by the length of the string.
Increasing the tension increases the wave speed so the frequency
increases.

Q23 Is it possible for sound to travel through a steel bar?

Yes. It is just a compression wave that travels through the steel.

Putting your ear to the rails is a good way of hearing a train
coming a long distance away

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 26

Q24 Suppose that we increase the temperature of the air through
which a sound wave is traveling.
A. What effect does this have on the speed of the sound wave?
Explain.
B. For a given frequency, what effect does increasing the
temperature have on the wavelength of the sound wave? Explain.

The speed increases and the wavelength increases

Q25 If the temperature in a organ pipe increases above room

temperature, thereby increasing the speed of sound waves in the pipe
but not affecting the length of pipe significantly, what effect does this
have on the frequency of the standing waves produced by this pipe?

The length is unchanged so the wavelength is unchanged

so the frequency increases

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 27

Q26 Is the wavelength of the fundamental standing wave in a tube
open at both ends greater than, equal to, or less than the wavelength
for the fundamental wave in a tube open at just one end?

A tube open at both ends has half a wavelength

whereas the tube open at one end has one quarter of a
wavelength.

Q27 A band playing on a flat-bed truck is approaching you rapidly

near the end of a parade. Will you hear the same pitch for the
various instruments as someone down the street who has already
been passed by the truck?

The pitch increases as the band approaches and decreases

as it is going away

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 28

 Ch 15 E 2
Water waves have a wavelength  = 1.4 m and
Period T = 0.8s . What is the velocity of the waves?

v =  / T = 1.4/0.8 = 1.75 m/s

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 29

 Ch 15 E 8
String of length 0.8 m is fixed at both ends. The story is
plucked so that there are two nodes along the string in
addition to those at either end. What is the wavelength of
the interfering waves?

fixed head

node node

λ ½λ
snapshot v T

R
v

At each node wave T and wave R cancel. From the picture a total of 3/2  fit
on 0.8 m string. 3/2  = 0.8 m →  = (2/3) 0.8 = 0.53 m
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 30
 Ch 15 E 10
What is the frequency of a sound wave with wavelength
 = 0.68 m travelling in room temperature air (v=340m/s)?

v = f → f = v/ = 340/0.68 m = 500 Hz

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 31

 Ch 15 E 12
Suppose we start a major scale at 440 Hz (concert A). If
we call this frequency do, what is the ideal
ratio frequency of
a) mi ?
b) sol ?
do
re 5/4
mi 4/3
a) mi = 5/4 do 3/2

= 5/4 (440 Hz) = 550 Hz fa

sol
b) sol = 3/2 do la
= 3/2 (440) = 660 Hz ti
do

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 32

 Ch 15 E 14
In just tuning, major third ratio = 5/4. In equally
tempered tuning the ratio = 1.260. If we start a scale at
do = 440 Hz, what is the difference in frequency of a
major third in each style of tuning?

Just tuning
mi = 5/4 (440 Hz) = 550 Hz = fj
Equally tempered tuning
mi = 1.260 (440 Hz) = 554.4 Hz = fet
fet – fj = 4.4 Hz

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 33

 Ch 15 CP 2
A guitar string has length 1.25 m and mass 40 g. After
stringing the guitar, string has 64 cm between fixed
points. It is tightened to tension = 720 N.

a) What is mass per unit length of string?

b) What is wavespeed on tightened string?
c) What is wavelength of traveling waves that interfere to
form the fundamental standing wave?
d) What is frequency of the fundamental standing wave?
e) What are wavelength and frequency of the next
harmonic?

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 34

 Ch 15 CP2 cont.
a) =M/L=0.04/1.25=0.032 kg/m

b)  = F/ = 720/0.032 = 22500 = 150 m/s

c) v
R
=
Snapshot of fundamental
v T standing wave

node antinode node 0.64 m = ½ 

 = 1.28 m
d) =1.28 m ; f = / = 150/1.28 = 117 Hz

e)  = 0.64 m
f = / = 150/0.64 = 234 Hz
node anti-node node anti-node node

Snapshot of second harmonic

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 35

 Ch 15 CP 4
Concert A = 440 Hz. A is nine half steps above C (12
half steps in full octave). In equally-tempered-tuning
each half step has a ratio 1.0595 above preceding step.

a) What is the frequency of A-flat, one half step below A?

b) Find the frequencies at each half-step until C.
c) In just-tuning, middle C = 264 Hz. How does b) compare to this?
d) Now, work up from concert A to high C in equal temperament. Is this
frequency twice than in b) (one octave high than middle c)?

a) A = 440 Hz, Ab = A/1.0595 = 415.2902 Hz

b) C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A → up the scale
A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C → down the scale

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 36

 Ch 15 CP4 cont.
b) continued:
A = 440 Hz
Ab = A/1.0595 = 415.2902 Hz
G = Ab/1.0595 = 391.9681 Hz
Gb= G/1.0595 = 369.9557 Hz
F = Gb/1.0595 = 344.1796 Hz
E = F/1.0595 = 329.5701 Hz
Eb = E/1.0595 = 311.0620 Hz
D = Eb/1.0595 = 293.5932 Hz
Db = D/1.0595 = 277.1054 Hz
C = Db/1.0595 = 261.5435 Hz
c) Cj = 264 Hz; Cet = 261.5435 Hz
Cj – Cet = 2.46 Hz
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011
d) A, Bb, B, C → up to scale
A = 440 Hz
Bb = A  1.0595 = 466.18 Hz
B = Bb  1.0595 = 493.9177 Hz
C = B  1.0595 = 523.3058 Hz
middle C = 261.5435 Hz
high C = 523.3058 Hz
high C/ middle C = 2.00;
Yes, high C is twice the frequency
of middle C!!
37
 Electromagnetic waves

EM waves consist of oscillating magnetic and electric fields

transmitted through vacuum at a constant speed of c = 3 x 108m/s.
They are produced whenever there is a changing electric or magnetic
field.
The acceleration of electric charge produces EM waves such as a
broadcast antenna, AC wiring and lightning. A simple EM wave in
vacuum has
f = c/λ where c = 3 x 108 m/s

In a medium like glass the velocity decreases, f stays the same so λ

also decreases and f = v/λ
The factor for the decrease is the refractive index which for glass is
typically 1.4 to 2.0

http://www.physics.purdue.edu/class/applets/phe/emwave.htm

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 38

 Electromagnetic spectrum
Almost all the information
we receive from outside the
earth is in the form of EM
radiation.
Different parts of the
spectrum correspond to
different physical
processes
We can understand what is
going on in the Universe
and back in time to near the
beginning of the Universe
using a variety of earth and
space based telescopes.

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 39

 The telescopes

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 40

 How do we see color
An image is formed at the back of
the eye like a camera and there
are receptors called cones that
respond to different wavelengths.
The brain interprets the mixture of
the three signals as color.
If we look at an object the color
we see is the reflected light so the
other colors were absorbed.
If we are looking through a
colored object then the object lets
that color be transmitted and the
other colors are absorbed

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 41

 Refractive Index
The speed of electromagnetic waves in vacuum is 3 x 108
m/sec and no energy can be transferred faster than this speed.
When an electromagnetic wave passes through a transparent
medium such as glass the speed is reduced by a factor n that
we call the refractive index . If the speed in glass is v then
n = c/v. The frequency of the wave does not change so that the
speed is reduced by the factor n and therefore since

c = fλvacuum and v = fλglass then

c/v = n and λvacuum/λglass = n

and λglass is smaller than λvacuum

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 42

 Interference
When two coherent beams of
light are brought together they
will add just like two waves on a
string.
So when two peaks coincide the
light will be a maximum and when
a peak coincides with a valley
there will be no light.
Bright fringes are located at
If we use two slits then as we positions given by
move on the screen the path dy/x = nλ
difference between the two where n is an integer
beams will vary and we will get Dark fringes occur when
bright and dark fringes. dy/x = nλ/2
where n is an odd integer
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 43
 Thin film interference
Thin film interference occurs when
light is reflected from the top surface
and the underneath surface.
This provides the two beams of
coherent light that interfere.
Since we normally observe this with
white light we see colors because the
path difference varies depending on
the angle of observation
So different wavelengths (colors) have
constructive and destructive
interference at different places on the
film.

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 44

 Diffraction
Interference occurs even for a single
aperture and this is called diffraction.
The pattern shown is from a square
aperture and the pattern can be
thought of as light from different
parts of the aperture interfering.
As the aperture is made smaller the
pattern actually expands.
This effect can limit our ability to see
detail in small objects or to resolve
two stars nearby to one another.
The position of the first
dark fringe is given by
y = λx/w. This means the
central bright fringe has a
width ~ 2y and increases
as w gets smaller

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 45

 Diffraction grating
If we have multiple slits very close together maybe
several 1000/centimeter the diffraction from each slit
adds in a way that produces very narrow and bright
fringes.
For small angles the location of the bright fringes is
given by
dy/x = mλ where m is an odd or even integer

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 46

 Polarization
In a normal beam of light the electric
field vector points in all directions.
There are materials like polaroid that
will only transmit light with the
electric field vector along a specific
direction.
Light reflected by water also is
polarized so polaroid sun glasses at
the right orientation will block the
reflected light.
Transparent objects under stress
can also cause transmitted light to
be polarized. Car windshields are
one example where patterns can be
seen when wearing polaroid sun
glasses

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 47

 Summary of Chapter 16
f = c/λ c = 3 x 108m/s
Refractive index
c = fλvacuum and v = fλglass then

c/v = n and λvacuum/λglass = n

and λglass is smaller than λvacuum

Polarization

Thin film interference

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 48

 Interference
Bright fringes are located at positions
given by dy/x = nλ n is an integer
Dark fringes occur when dy/x = nλ/2
where n is an odd integer

Diffraction grating dy/x = mλ

where m is an odd or even
integer

The position of the first dark fringe is

given by y = λx/w. This means the central
bright fringe has a width ~ 2y and
increases as w gets smaller

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 49

 7B-11 Color in Thin Films
Studying thin-film interference effects

Why are the effects on

What kind of
white light and
patterns appear
monochromatic light
on the screen ?
different ?

LIGHT REFLECTED FROM THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF A THIN SOAP
FILM INTERFERES WITH ITSELF. INTERFERENCE OF MONOCHROMATIC
LIGHT PRODUCES BRIGHT AND DARK FRINGES WHILE INTERFERENCE
OF WHITE LIGHT PRODUCES COLORED BANDS (DIFFERENT
FREQUENCIES OF LIGHT INTERFERE DIFFERENTLY).
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 50
 7B-15 Line Spectrum
Identifying the emission line spectrum of specific elements

What do you expect to

see with the
diffraction grating ?

THE COLOR WE SEE IN THE TUBE (WITHOUT PASSING

THROUGH THE GRATING) IS A COMPOSITE OF
COLORS. THE COLORS ARE SEPARATED (DIFFERENT
COLORS INTERFERE AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS) BY
GRATING AND PROVIDE UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION OF
ELEMENT.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 51
 Coatings for lenses
As light passes from one transparent medium to
another a few percent of the light will be reflected.
This is a particular problem in optical systems like
lenses where there may be many glass elements.
For example if 96% of the light is transmitted at a
surface after 8 surfaces only 72% of the light
remains and the other 28% will be scattered
everywhere.
Thin coatings are put on glass surfaces so that for
particular wavelengths the light reflected from the
top surface is exactly cancelled by the light from
the bottom surface.
This is only true for a single wavelength and to
reduce the reflections for a range of wavelengths
requires multiple thin film layers very often just λ/4
thick.
This is why camera lenses usually have a blue
green color. Often binocular lenses are ruby red.

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 52

 Questions Chapter 16
Q3 Is it possible for an electromagnetic wave to travel through a
vacuum?
Yes

Q11 Skylight is produced by scattering of light from the direct

beam coming from the sun. Why is the color of the sky different
from the color of the light of the sun itself?

Blue light is scattered more strongly than red light

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 53

Q12 Two waves interfere to form fringes in Young’s double-slit
experiment. Do these two waves come from the same light
source?

Yes. They must be coherent

Q13 If two waves start out in phase with one another, but one wave
travels half a wavelength farther than the other before they come
together, will the waves be in phase or out of phase when they
combine?

They will be exactly out of phase

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 54

Q15 When light is reflected from a thin film of oil on a water puddle,
the colors we see are produced by interference. What two waves are
interfering in this situation?

One ray is reflected by the top of the oil, the second from the
oil/water interface

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 55

 Ch 16 E4
X-rays often have wavelength of about =10-10m. What
is the frequency of such waves?

f = c/ = 31018 Hz

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 56

 Ch 16 E 8
Light of 500 nm is reflected from a thin film of air
between two glass plates. The thickness of film:
d=1m=1000 nm.
a) How much farther does light reflected from bottom plate travel than
that reflected from top plate?
b) How many wavelengths of light does this represent?

top bottom

a) Path difference = 2d
= 2000 nm

b) 2000 nm/ = 4
4 wavelengths of light
d
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 57
 Ch 16 E 12
Diffraction grating has 1000 slits ruled in space of 1.4
cm. What is the distance d between adjacent slits?

∙∙∙ ∙∙∙
d d d d
1.4 cm

1000 d = 1.4 cm (see picture)

d = 1.4 cm/1000 = 0.014 m/1000 = 1.4  10-5 m

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 58

 Ch 16 E14
When passed through a diffraction grating of slit
spacing 410-6m, the first-order fringe, for light of a
single wavelength , lies 29.0 cm from center of screen
2.0 m away from grating. What is ?

y = 0.24 m

X = 2.0 m
grating

d = 4  10-6 m
d y/x = m, m=1 because this is first order fringe
 = dy/x = (410-6)(0.29)/2.0 = 5.8  10-7 m = 580 nm

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 59

 Ch 16 CP 2
Light of wavelength =600 nm passes through a double
slit with d = 0.03 mm. The resulting fringe pattern is
observed on a screen 1.2 m from the double slit.
a) How far from the center of the screen is the first bright fringe?
b) Second bright fringe?
c) First dark fringe?
d) Sketch a picture of the central seven bright fringes (central fringe & 3 on
either side). Clearly indicate the distance from each fringe to the center
of the screen.

y1
y2 z1- first dark fringe
z1
d = 0.03 mm
x = 1.2 m y1, y2 - first and second
bright fringes

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 60

 Ch 16 CP 2 cont.
a) d y/x=n or yn= n x/d  = n (1.2)/(0.0310-3) (60010-9)
yn=n(0.024)m
y1 = 1(0.024) = 0.024m = 2.4 cm
b) y2 = 2 (0.024) m = 4.8 cm y3 = +7.2 cm +
4

c) z is spacing nth dark fringe y2 = 4.8 cm

dz/x = (n-1/2) 
or zn = (n-1/2) x/d  y1 = +2.4 cm

zn = (n-1/2) (0.024m)
y=0
z1 = (1-1/2)(0.024m) = 1.2 cm
y-1= -2.4 cm -
4
d) y1 = 2.4 cm
y2 = 4.8 cm y-2 = -4.8 cm
y3 = 3(0.024m) = 7.2 cm
y-3 = -7.2

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 Ch 16 CP 4
Soap film has index of refraction n=1.333. This means
that the wavelength of light in the film is reduced by a
factor of 1/n. Index of refraction for air = 1.0.

a) If light has  = 600 nm in air enters the soap film, what is the new ?
b) Film is 900 nm thick. How many wavelengths farther does light
reflected off
bottomyou
c) Would of film travel than
be surprised tothat
findreflected off top?
the thickness produces destructive
interference for reflected light?

08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 62

 CH 16 CP4 cont
top bottom
air film
n = 1.0 n = 1.333
a) f = 600 nm/1.333 = 450 nm

b) Light reflected from bottom surface travels

 = 600 nm f = 450 nm
2 (900 nm) farther. 2(900 nm)/f = 4.

In the film this is a 4 full wavelengths. 900 nm

c) The above analysis determines that the reflected light

should constructively interfere. That is, the light reflected
from the bottom surface is in-phase with that reflected from
the top. However the actual reflection process introduces a
phase change between the two waves so the waves are in
fact out of phase.
08/04/22 Physics 214 Fall 2011 63