Interference

Superposition principle: ‘If two or more wave vibrating in a medium are superimposed with
each other then the resultant displacement or disturbance is the vector sum of individual
displacement or disturbance.’
If 𝑦1 , 𝑦2 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ 𝑦𝑛 are the displacement of individuals waves vibrating in a medium
then from superposition principle the resultant displacement is given by
𝑦 = 𝑦1 ± 𝑦2 ± ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ± 𝑦𝑛
Coherent source: A pair of source are said to be coherent if they have same frequency, same
wavelength and in phase or constant phase difference. Two independent source may not be
coherent even they are formed by same
factory or fitted by same person. But a

Coherent source
Green filter
𝑆1
coherent source can be formed by
White S
splitting a single monochromatic source light
𝑆2
of light into two sources. Laser light is
coherent source of light.
Monochromatic light
Interference: The non-uniform distribution of energy due to superposition of
light wave emitted from coherent source is called interference. It gives the
proof of wave nature of light.
Condition of interference:
There are following conditions for sustaining interference
a) Sources of light must be coherent.
b) Amplitude of waves from two sources must be equal
c) It should be monochromatic.
d) It must emit light continuously.
e) Distance between the coherent sources must be small.
f) The separation between source and screen should be large.
Types of interference:
There are two types of interference
i. Constructive interference
ii. Destructive interference
Constructive interference: If crest of one wave falls on the crest of another wave
or trough of one wave falls on the trough of another wave then the interference
is called constructive interference.
Condition of constructive interference: If the path difference between the light
waves meeting at a point is equal to whole number multiple of wave length
then the point is position of constructive interference.
𝑖𝑒, 𝑃𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑛𝜆; 𝑛 = 0,1,2 … … … .
Destructive interference: If crest of one wave falls on the trough of another
wave and vice-versa then the interference is called destructive interference.
Condition of destructive interference: If the path difference between the light
waves meeting at a point is equal to odd integral multiple of half of wave length
then the point is position of destructive interference.
𝜆
𝑖𝑒, 𝑃𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 2𝑛 − 1 ; 𝑛 = 1,2,3 … … … .
2
 Analytical treatment of interference
The displacement of coherent waves having amplitude 𝑎1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎2 meeting at a
point with constant phase difference 𝜙 are given by
𝑦1 = 𝑎1 sin 𝜔𝑡
And 𝑦2 = 𝑎2 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙
From superposition principle, the resultant displacement is given by
𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
= 𝑎1 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙
= 𝑎1 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 sin 𝜔𝑡 cos 𝜙 + 𝑎2 cos 𝜔𝑡 sin 𝜙
= sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 + cos 𝜔𝑡 𝑎2 sin 𝜙
Let 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 = 𝐴 cos 𝜃 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ 𝑖
and 𝑎2 sin 𝜙 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ 𝑖𝑖
Then 𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝜔𝑡 cos 𝜃 + 𝐴 cos 𝜔𝑡 sin 𝜃
= 𝐴 sin 𝜔𝑡 cos 𝜃 + cos 𝜔𝑡 sin 𝜃
= 𝐴 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ 𝑖𝑖𝑖
Where A is the amplitude of resultant wave and 𝜃 is the phase difference
between resultant wave and first wave.
Squaring and adding equation 𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑖 we get,
𝐴 cos 𝜃 2 + 𝐴 sin 𝜃 2 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 2 + 𝑎2 sin 𝜙 2
𝑜𝑟, 𝐴2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝐴2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 = 𝑎12 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 + 𝑎22 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜙 + 𝑎22 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜙
𝑜𝑟, 𝐴2 cos2 𝜃 + sin2 𝜃 = 𝑎12 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 + 𝑎22 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜙 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜙
𝑜𝑟, 𝐴2 = 𝑎12 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 + 𝑎22
𝑜𝑟, 𝐴 = 𝑎12 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 + 𝑎22
Dividing equation 𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖 we get,
 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑎2 sin 𝜙
or, =
𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑎1 +𝑎2 cos 𝜙
𝑎2 sin 𝜙
𝑜𝑟, 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑎1 +𝑎2 cos 𝜙
We know that, the intensity of sound is directly proportional to square of its
amplitudes
𝑖𝑒, 𝐼1 ∝ 𝑎12 ; 𝐼2 ∝ 𝑎22 ; 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 ∝ 𝐴2
𝐴2 = 𝑎12 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 cos 𝜙 + 𝑎22
𝑜𝑟, 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 2 𝐼1 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 +𝐼2
For maximum intensity,
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 = +1
or, 𝜙 = cos−1 +1
= 𝑛 2𝜋
For x path difference the phase difference
2𝜋
𝜙 = 𝑥
𝜆
2𝜋
𝑛 2𝜋 = 𝑥
𝜆
𝑥 = 𝑛𝜆; this is the condition for constructive interference.
For minimum intensity,
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 = 0
or, 𝜙 = cos−1 0
2𝜋
or, 𝑥 = 2𝑛 − 1 𝜋
𝜆
𝜆
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 = 2𝑛 − 1 ; this is the condition for destructive interference.
2
 Young’s double slit experiment
Suppose S is the source of monochromatic light P
of wave length 𝜆. 𝑆1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆2 are the coherent
x
Sources separated by a distance d. CO is the 𝑆1 M
O
Perpendicular bisector of 𝑆1 𝑆2 . Let P is a point S d C 𝑑
𝑆2 N 2
on the screen at a distance x from centre O. Let
D is the distance between source and screen. D

Draw normal 𝑆1 𝑀 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆2 𝑁 from 𝑆1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆2

to the screen respectively. Let 𝑆1 𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆2 𝑃 are the distance travelled by the
light emitted from 𝑆1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆2 and to reach the point P. So 𝑆2 𝑃 − 𝑆1 𝑃 is the path
difference.
𝑖𝑒, 𝑃𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑆2 𝑃 − 𝑆1 𝑃
Now, in Δ𝑆1 𝑀𝑃, 𝑆1 𝑃2 = 𝑆1 𝑀2 + 𝑃𝑀2
𝑑 2
= 𝐷2 + 𝑥−
2
Also, in Δ𝑆2 𝑁𝑃, 𝑆2 𝑃2 = 𝑆2 𝑁 2 + 𝑃𝑁 2
𝑑 2
= 𝐷2 + 𝑥 +
2
𝑑 2 𝑑 2
Finally, 𝑆2 𝑃2 − 𝑆1 𝑃2 = 𝐷2 + 𝑥 + − 𝐷2 − 𝑥−
2 2
𝑑 2 𝑑 2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑆2 𝑃 − 𝑆1 𝑃 𝑆2 𝑃 + 𝑆1 𝑃 = 𝑥 + − 𝑥−
2 2
𝑑2 𝑑2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑆2 𝑃 − 𝑆1 𝑃 ≈ 2𝐷 = 𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑑 + − 𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑑 −
4 4
2𝑥𝑑
𝑜𝑟, 𝑆2 𝑃 − 𝑆1 𝑃 =
2𝐷
𝑥𝑑
∴ 𝑃𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
𝐷
The point P will be the position of maximum, if this path difference is equal to
whole number multiple of wavelength
𝑥𝑑
𝑖𝑒, = 𝑛𝜆
𝐷
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥𝑑 = 𝑛𝜆𝐷
𝑛𝜆𝐷
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 = ;𝑛 = 0,1,2, ⋯ ⋯
𝑑
The distance between two constitutive position of maxima is called fringe width
of minima
2𝜆𝐷 𝜆𝐷 𝜆𝐷
𝑖𝑒, 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 = − =
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
𝜆𝐷
𝑜𝑟, 𝛽𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑑
The point P will be the position of minima, if above path difference is equal to
odd integral multiple of half of wavelength
𝑥𝑑 𝜆
𝑖𝑒, = 2𝑛 − 1 ; 𝑛 = 1,2, ⋯ ⋯
𝐷 2
𝜆𝐷
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥𝑑 = 2𝑛 − 1
2
𝜆𝐷
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 = 2𝑛 − 1 ; 𝑛 = 1,2, ⋯ ⋯
2𝑑
The distance between two constitutive position of minima is called fringe width
of maxima
3𝜆𝐷 𝜆𝐷 𝜆𝐷
𝑖𝑒, 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 = − =
2𝑑 2𝑑 𝑑
𝜆𝐷
𝑜𝑟, 𝛽𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝑑
𝜆𝐷
𝛽𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝛽𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝛽 =
𝑑
 Optical path
The optical path length is defined as the product of refractive index and
thickness of the medium.
Let d is the thickness of a medium having refractive index 𝜇 then
time taken by light to travel the thickness d is given by
𝑑
𝑡= d
𝑣
In this time, the length travelled by light in vacuum is given by
𝐿=𝑐𝑡
𝑑
=𝑐
𝑣
𝑐
= 𝑑
𝑣
=𝜇𝑑
Optical path difference:
The optical path length from A to B is given by
𝐿1 = 𝑎𝜇𝑎 × 𝑆 = 1 × 𝑆 = 𝑆 A
S
B
𝜇
Also, the optical path length from A to B when medium of
thickness d and refractive index 𝜇 is introduced in between A B
A and B
𝐿2 = 𝑆 − 𝑑 × 𝑎𝜇𝑎 + 𝜇 𝑑
d
=𝑆−𝑑+𝜇𝑑
Now, the optical path difference is given by
𝐿2 − 𝐿1 = 𝑆 − 𝑑 + 𝜇 𝑑 − 𝑆
=𝜇𝑑−𝑑
=𝑑 𝜇−1
For maxima, 𝑑 𝜇 − 1 = 𝑛𝜆
 Measurement of the wavelength of light
Suppose S is