Chapter 10.

Wave Optics

Huygens Principle
1 Mark Questions
[Link] light travels from a rarer to a denser medium, the speed decreases. Does this
decrease in speed imply a decrease in the energy carried by the light wave? Justify your
answer.[All India 2010]
[Link] decreases due to decrease of wavelength of wave but energy carried by the light
wave depends on the amplitude of electric field vector

[Link] type of wave front will emerge from a

(i)point source
(ii)distant light source? [Delhi 2009]
Ans.(i)When
Ans source of light is a point source, the wavefront is spherical.
(ii) At very large distances from the source, a portio of spherical or cylindrical waver at
appears to be plane.

[Link] a diagram to show refraction of a plane wave front incident on a convex lens and
hence draw the refracted wave front. [Delhi 2009]
[Link]
Ans refraction of a plane wavefront is shown in the figure below

[Link] between a ray and a wave front.[Delhi 2009]

[Link]
Ans. A ray always remains perpendicular to the wave front and directed along the
direction of propagation of wave.
Wave front The locus of all those particles which are vibrating in the same phase at any
instant is called wave front.
[Link] the wave front coming out from a convex lens, when a point source of light is placed
at its focus. [Foreign 2009]
Ans .The wavelength in the given condition is shown in figure below

[Link] the shape of wave front emerging from a point source of light and also mark the
rays. [Foreign 2009]
Ans .

[Link] a wave front. [Foreign 2009]

Ans .When light is emitted from a source, then the particles present around it begins to

vibrate. The locus of all such particles which are vibrating in the same phase is termed as
wave front.

3 Marks Questions
[Link] a wavefront. Use Huygens’ geometrical construction to show the propagation of
plane wave front from a rarer medium (1) to a denser medium (2) undergoing refraction,
hence derive Snell’s law of refraction. [Foreign 2012]
[Link]
Ans light is emitted from a source, then the particles present around it beginsto vibrate.
The locus of all such particles which are vibrating in the same phase is termed as wave front.
9.(i) Use Huygens’ geometrical construction to show the behaviour of a plane wave front,
(a)passing through a biconvex lens
(b)reflected by a concave mirror,
(ii) When monochromatic light is incident on a surface separating two media, why does the
refracted light have the same frequency as that of the incident light? [Foreign 2012]
Ans.

(ii)The frequency and time period of an electromagnetic wave depends only on the source
which produces it. The frequency is independent of the medium through which it travels. But
the speed and wavelength depends on the medium through which the wave travels. Because
of this, the frequency and time period of sound wave do not change due to change in medium

[Link] Huygens’ geometrical construction of wave front, show how a plane wave g^is
reflected from a surface. Hence, verify laws of reflection. [All India 2011]
Ans .When light is emitted from a source, then the particles present around it beginsto vibrate.
The locus of all such particles which are vibrating in the same phase is termed as wave front.
[Link] Huygens’ principle to verify the laws of refraction. [Delhi 2011]
Ans .When light is emitted from a source, then the particles present around it beginsto vibrate.
The locus of all such particles which are vibrating in the same phase is termed as wave front.
[Link] Huygens’ principle, draw a diagram showing how a plane wave gets refracted,
when it is incident on the surface separating a rarer medium from a denser medium. Hence,
verify Snell’s laws of refraction. [All India 2011]
Ans .When light is emitted from a source, then the particles present around it beginsto vibrate.
The locus of all such particles which are vibrating in the same phase is termed as wave front.
[Link] is a wave front defined? Using Huygens’ construction, draw a figure showing the
propagation of a plane wave refracting at a plane surface separating two media. Hence,
verify Snell’s law of refraction. [Delhi 2008]
Ans .When light is emitted from a source, then the particles present around it beginsto vibrate.
The locus of all such particles which are vibrating in the same phase is termed as wave front.
5 Marks Questions
14.(i) Use Huygens’ geometrical construction to show how a plane wave front at t = 0
propagates and produces a wave front at a later time.
(ii) Verify, using Huygens’ principle, Snell’s law of refraction of a plane wave propagating
from a denser to a rarer medium.
(iii)When monochromatic light is incident on a surface separation two media, the reflected
and refracted light both have the same frequency. Explain why?[Delhi 2013 C]
Ans.
(iii) The reflection and refraction phenomenon occur due to interaction of corpuscles of
incident light and the atoms of matter on receiving light energy, the atoms are forced to
oscillate about their mean positions with the same frequency as incident light. According to
Maxwell’s classical theory, the frequency of light emitted by a charged oscillator is same as its
frequency of oscillation. Thus, the frequency of reflected and refracted light is same as the
incident frequency.

[Link] Huygens’ principle. Using. this principle draw a diagram to show how a plane
wavefront incident at the interface of the two media gets refracted when it propagates from
a rarer to a denser medium. Hence, verify Snell’s law of refraction. [Delhi 2013]
[Link]’ Principle

Each point on the primary wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets, sending
out disturbance in all directions in a similar manner as the original source of light does,
(l)
The new position of the wavefront at any instant (called secondary wavefront) is the
 envelope of the secondary wavelets at that instant.

When light is emitted from a source, then the particles present around it beginsto vibrate. The
locus of all such particles which are vibrating in the same phase is termed as wave front.

16.(i) A plane wavefront approaches a plane surface separating two media. If medium 1 is
optically denser and medium 2 is optically rarer, using Huygens’ principle, explain and show
how a refracted wavefront is constructed?
(ii)Verify Snell’s law.
(iii)When a light wave travels from a rarer to a denser medium, the speed decreases. Does it
imply reduction in its energy? Explain.[Foreign 2011]
Ans .(i) Let a plane wavefront AB is incident at the interface XY separating two media such
that medium 1 is optically denser than medium 2. Let time t is taken by the wave to reach
from B to C
 Interference of Light
1 Mark Questions
[Link] the term ‘coherent sources’ which are required to produce interference pattern in
Young’s double slit experiment. [Delhi 2014 c]
Ans .Two monochromatic sources,which produce light waves, having a constant phase
difference are known as coherent sources.

[Link] would the angular separation of interference fringes in Young’s double slit
experiment change when the distance between the slits and screen is halved? [All India
2009]
Ans.

[Link] are coherent sources required to create interference of light?[Foreign 2009]

Ans .To observe interference fringe pattern, there is need to have coherent sources of light
which can produce light of constant phase difference

[Link] does the fringe width of interference fringes change, when the whole apparatus of
Young’s experiment is kept in a liquid of refractive index, 1.3? [hots; Delhi 2008]
Ans.
[Link] does the angular separation of interference fringes change, in Young’s experiment, if
the distance between the slits is increased?[Delhi 2008]
Ans.

2 Marks Questions
[Link] light of wavelength 630 nm incident on a pair of slits produces an interference
pattern in which the bright fringes are separated by 7.2 mm. Calculate the wavelength of
another source of laser light which produce interference fringes separated by 8.1 mm using
same pair Of slits. [All India 2011]
Ans.

[Link] will the interference pattern in Young’s double slit experiment get affected, when
(i)distance between the slits S1 and S2 reduced and
(ii)the entire set up is immersed in water? Justify your answer in each case. [Delhi 2011]
Ans.
[Link] figure shows a double slit experimental set up for observing interference fringes due
to different interference component colours of white light.

Ans .(i) White colour fringe is obtained at point O as all components colour wavelength
undergo constructive interference fringe pattern.
(ii) In this case, the light of blue colour interfere destructively and hence this colour would
subtract from white light. Thus, yellow colour fringe would be obtained at P.

[Link] down two conditions to obtain the sustained interference fringe pattern of light.
What is the effect on the interference fringes in Young’s double slit experiment, when
monochromatic source is replaced by a source of white light?[Foreign 2008]
Ans .Conditions for sustained interference
(i) The two sources of light must be coherent to emit light of constant phase difference.
(ii) The amplitude of electric field vector of interfering wave should be equal to have greater
contrast between intensity of constructive and destructive interference.
When monochromatic light is replaced by white light, then coloured fringe pattern is obtained
on the screen

3 Marks Questions

Ans.
[Link] Young’s double slit experiment to produce interference pattern due to a
monochromatic source of light. Deduce the expression for the fringe width.[Delhi 2011]
Ans.
Ans.
[Link] Young’s double slit experiment, the two slits 0.15 mm apart are illuminated by
monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm. The screen is 0 m away from the slits.
(i)Find the distance of the second

bright fringe
dark fringe from the central maximum.

(ii)How will the fringe pattern change if the screen is moved away from the slits? [All India
2010]
Ans.
14.A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 560 nm and 420 nm is used to obtain
interference fringes in a Young’s double slit experiment. Find the least distance from the
central maximum, where the bright fringes, due to both the wavelengths coincide. The
distance between the two slits is 4.0 mm and the screen is at a distance of 0 m from the
slits.[Delhi 2010 C]
Ans.
15.A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 600 nm and 450 nm is used to obtain
interference fringes in a Young’s double slit experiment. Find the least distance from the
central maxima, where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide. The distance
between the two slits is 4 mm and the screen is at a distance lm from the slits. [Foreign
2008]
Ans.

[Link] Young’s double slit experiment, monochromatic light of wavelength 630 nm

illuminates the pair of slits and produces an interference pattern in which two consecutive
bright fringes are separated by 1 mm . Another source of monochromatic light produces the
interference pattern in which the two consecutive bright fringes are separated by 7.2 mm.
Find the wavelength of light from the second source. What is the effect on the interference
fringes, is when monochromatic source is replaced by a source of white light?[All India 2009]
Ans.

[Link] Young’s double slit experiment, monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm

illuminates the pair of slits and produces an interference pattern in which two consecutive
bright fringes are separated by 10 Another source of monochromatic light produces the
interference pattern in which the two consecutive bright fringes are separated by 8 mm. Find
the wavelength of light from the second source. What is the effect on the interference
fringes if the monochromatic source is replaced by a source of white light? [All India 2009]
Ans.
[Link] a Young’s double slit experiment, the two slits are kept 2 mm apart and the screen is
positioned 140 cm away from the plane of the slits. The slits are illuminated with light of
wavelength 600 nm. Find the distance of the third bright fringe from the central maximum, in
the interference pattern obtained on the screen. If the wavelength of the incident light were
changed to 480 nm, then find out the shift in the position of third bright fringe from the
central maximum.[HOTS; All India 2008]
Ans.
Ans.

5 Marks Questions

20.(i) In Young’s double slit experiment, describe briefly how bright and dark fringes are
obtained on the screen kept in front of a double slit. Hence, obtain the expression for the
fringe width.
(ii) The ratio of the intensities at minima to the maxima in the Young’s double slit experiment
is 9:[Link] the ratio of the widths of the two slits.[All India 2014]
Ans .(i)
Ans.
[Link] Young’s double slit experiment,derive the condition for
(a)constructive interference and
(b)destructive interference at a point on the screen.
(ii) A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths, 800 nm and 600 nm is used to obtain the
interference fringes on a screen placed 1.4 m away in a Young’s double slit experiment. If
the two slits are separated by 0.28 mm, calculate the least distance from the central bright
maximum where the bright fringes of the two wavelengths coincide. [All India 2012]
Ans.(i)
23.(i)What is the effect on the interference fringes to a Young’s double slit experiment when
(a)the separation between the two slits is decreased?
(b)the width of the source-slit is increased?
(c)the monochromatic source is replaced by a source of white light? Justify your answer in
each case

Ans.
[Link] the importance of coherent sources in the phenomenon of interference. In Young’s
double slit experiment to produce interference pattern, obtain the conditions for constructive
and destructive interference. Hence, deduce the expression for the fringe width. How does
the fringe width get affected, if the entire experimental apparatus of YDSE is immersed in
water?[All India 2011]
Ans .To observe interference fringe pattern, there is need to have coherent sources of light
which can produce light of constant phase difference
(ii) In this case, the light of blue colour interfere destructively and hence this colour would
subtract from white light. Thus, yellow colour fringe would be obtained at P.

[Link] are coherent sources?Why are they necessary for observing a sustained
interference pattern? How are the two coherent sources obtained in the Young’s double slit
experiment?

Ans .(i)Two monochromatic sources,which produce light waves, having a constant phase
difference are known as coherent sources.
(ii)
26. In a Young’s double slit experiment,
(i)deduce the conditions for constructive and destructive interference. Hence, write the
expression for the distance between two consecutive bright or dark fringe.
(ii)what change in the interference pattern do you observe, if the two slits, St and are taken
as point sources?
(iii) plot a graph of the intensity distribution versus path difference in this experiment.
Compare this with the intensity distribution of fringes due to diffraction at a single slit. What
important difference do you observe? [Delhi 2009 c]
Ans .(i)
(ii)Being two independent sources, the difference between the waves from two sources is not
constant and hence interference pattern cannot be seen on screen.
(iii) Graph of the intensity distribution versus path difference

The intensity of bright fringes in interference is same for all the bright fringes whereas in
diffraction pattern, the central fringe is brightest and intensity of secondary maxima
decreases with the increase of their order.

27.(i)What are coherent sources of light? Two slits in Young’s double slit experiment are
illuminated by two different sodium lamps emitting light of the same wavelength. Why does
no interference pattern observed?
(ii)Obtain the condition for getting dark and bright fringes in Young’s experiment. Hence,
write the expression for the fringe width.
(iii)If s is the size of the source and d be its distance from the plane of the two slits. What
should be the criterion for the interference fringes to be seen.[HOTS; Delhi 2006]
Ans.

(i) Coherent sources of light Refer to Ans -1 Two different sodium lamps cannot produce
interference fringe pattern as they are unable to maintain constant initial phase difference
between them.