Interference 

of Light

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Interference of Light
1 Interference definition

2 Conditions for interference

3 Types of Interference 

4 Applications of Interference
First we should know
What’s the Light
 Welcome!!
What’s the

Light

1 2 3 4

An It does not It travels in a its speed is

Light electromagnetic need a straight line m/s
wave medium to and In a
travel vacuum
 light sources

Fire Sun lamps

Interference of Light
Interference of Light

1 Interference definition

Interference of light
is defined as: “When two or more light waves having the
same frequency, same wavelength and same amplitude
meet together in a medium at a point, they cancel or en-
hance the effect of each other at that point. This phe-
nomenon is called interference of light waves.
Interference of Light

2 Conditions for interference

To observe the interference of light waves , fol-

lowing conditions must be met :
• The two light sources must be coherent ,
that is , they must maintain a constant
phase with respect to each other. The two
light sources should be monochromatic,
that is, of a single wavelength.
Interference of Light

3 Types of Interference 

There is Two types of interference :

• Constructive interference: happened
when crest one wave interferes with the
crest of another wave or trough with
trough .The resulting wave has a higher
amplitude.
• The destructive interference: happened
when crest of one wave interferes with the
trough of another .The resulting wave has a
lower amplitude
Interference of Light

3 Types of Interference 

laws
destructive Constructive
interference interference
Interference of Light

4 Application of Interference

The phenomenon of interference is also used to

weaken or increase the intensity of reflection
from glass surfaces.

Interference phenomena are used in measuring the

wavelengths of the lights that make up the spectrum and
measuring the spectral field width of monochromatic light ,
by forming fringes of equal slope, especially those caused
by the interference of multiple waves.
Interference of Light

4 Application of Interference

2- The phenomenon of interference is used in the

manufacture of interference filters
depending on the interference of multiple
waves as a result of successive reflection
from two highly opposite parallel surfaces that are
confined between them a very thin layer
of a transparent insulator.
Interference of Light

4 Application of Interference

Optical testing2.Space applications In

optical testing, interference is used in
testing surface quality like: flat surface,
spherical surface, roughness of surface etc.
Whereas in space applications include
Radio astronomy, measuring light intensity,
in retrieving images from the telescopes.
Physical optics

Study the phenomenon of interference of

light by using Fresnel dual prism
Physical optics 1- study the
phenomenon
of interference
of
light by using
Fresnel dual
prism

Aim
of 2- determine
experiment the
wavelength
of laser
source
Physical optics
1 Metal light table 90 cm with 4
brackets

2 Fresnel prism 179 with holder

3 Red laser light source with holder

Apparatus
4 The first convex lens

모바일 이미지 5 The second convex lens

6 White metal screen

Physical optics
Theory

- When light from two monochromatic sources of the

same wavelength is interfered with at a particular point
it forms a distance interference pattern.
- ‫ت لطولا لموجين فسه‬‫عندما ي تم ت داخلا لضوء مناثنينمنا لمصادر احاديه ا للونذا ا‬
‫ف ين قطه معينه ت شكلن مط ت داخلا لمسافه‬
- To obtain the interference pattern, two coherent
Source of equal intensities must be used
- ‫ل لحصولعلين مط ا لتداخلي جباستخدام مصدرينمتماسكينمتساويينف يا لشده‬
‫ا لمتكافئه‬
Physical optics
The types of interference :

1- Constructive interference: the sum of the waves is in

phase
2- Destructive interference: where the waves are different
in phase
-‫ ويكونانواع ا لتداخل‬:
1 - ‫ ت كونمجموع ا لموجاتمتفقينف يا لطور‬: ‫ت داخلب ناء‬
2- ‫ حيثت كونا لموجاتمختلفه ف يا لطور‬: ‫ت داخلهدام‬
Physical optics
Physical optics
Physical optics

- The distance (y) between two bright fringes or

two dark fringes gives the relationship:
=
- Where (D) is the distance between the screen
and the source:
- D=D1+D2
- a is the distance between s1 and s2:
a=A.D1/D2
Physical optics
- where X is the distance between the source
and the second convex lens
- D2 is the distance between The second convex
lens and the screen
- D1 is the distance between the first convex
lens and the second convex lens:
D1 = X – f1
- A The distance between the image of the two
imaginary sources on the screen.
Physical optics

Method
1- Place the laser source, convex lens and Fresnel prism on the
optical table respectively
2 - Align this light assembly together so that the beam of light
hits the central edge of the dual prism.
3 - Move the lens and the dual prism to get the fringes clearly on
the white screen.
4 - Calculate the distance (y) between two successive fringes,
by calculating the distance for five successive fringes . And
divide by their number We repeat the previous step 3 times to
get the average value of y
Physical optics
5 - Place another convex lens after the prism
and move it around until you notice a sharply
focused image of the light sources default.
6 - Calculate the distance (a) between two
light sources from the relationship 𝑎=𝐴𝐷1/𝐷2
7 - Calculate the wavelength from the rela-
tionship: λ= y . a / D 𝑦.a/D
Physical optics
Laws and results
D1=X-F1 D=D 1+D2
a=AD1/ D2 λ =y × a / D
D : is the distance between source of light and the screen.
D1 : is the distance between the first convex lens and the second
convex lens.
D2 : is the distance between second convex lens and the screen.
a : is the distance between S1 and S2 .
y : is the distance between two bright fringes or two dark fringes.
X : is the distance between the source of light and the second
convex lens.
A : is the distance between the images of the two imaginary
sources on the screen.
 
Physical optics
Units

λ= m
Y=m
A=m
D=m
D1 = m
D2 = m
X=m
a=m
Thank you