Government First Grade College- K R Puram, Bengaluru-560036

Department of Physics- Post-Graduation studies

Lab Manual
P106 (b): General Physics Lab-II

1. Elastic constants by Cornu’s interference method

Aim: To determine the elastic constants of the given material (Perspex) by Cornu’s
interference method.

Apparatus used: Long Perspex plate, sodium vapour lamp, plano-convex lens, mass
hangers, knife edges, travelling microscope.

Principle: When a plano-convex lens is placed on the flat surface of the given material
(Perspex), an air film of uniformly increasing thickness is formed b/w the convex part
and the Perspex surface. When the arrangement is illuminated by a monochromatic
source (sodium light) vertically downwards along the point of contact, interference of
light takes place b/w the incident light and the reflected light from the system
resulting in the formation of alternate dark and bright concentric rings around the
point of contact called Newton’s rings. When the Perspex plate is now loaded equally
on its ends, the concentric rings becomes elliptical called Cornu’s interference.

Theory: When a monochromatic light is incident on a reflecting system, it is partially

reflected and partially transmitted as shown in fig.1. The transmitted light through
the air film is again reflected and transmitted partially. Interference occurs between
the incident light at the surface and the reflected light by the system that is transmitted
partially at the surface.

A O
B B
C
Fig.1. Interference of light in Cornu’s method

At ‘A’, part of incident light is reflected and transmitted. At ‘C’ the transmitted light
gets reflected at the medium of incident light. Hence at ‘A’, a path difference of 2 AC
2𝜋𝐴𝐶
or a phase difference of 2 ( ) is obtained b/w the reflected rays at ‘A’ and that at
𝜆
‘C’. From the conditions for constructive and destructive interference, the fringes at
Point ‘B’, will appear bright , if path difference 2𝐴𝐶 = 𝑛𝜆 for n is even integers, or dark
 if 2𝐴𝐶 = 𝑛𝜆/2 for n is odd. Hence, AC = AB + BC ……….. (1)
1 1
𝐴𝐶 = 𝑅 2 [𝑟 + 𝑟 ] ……….. (2) ; where R – radius of the fringe, 𝑟1 – radius of curvature
1 0
of the plate and 𝑟0 - radius of curvature of the lens.
Longitudinally (x – direction) along the fringe pattern, applying the condition for
1 1 𝜆
constructive interference at ‘B’, we have, 𝑅 2 [𝑟 + 𝑟 ] = 𝑛𝜆 or 𝑅 2 = 𝑛 1 1 = 𝑘𝑛 ….. (3) ,
1 0 [ + ]
𝑟1 𝑟0

a plot of 𝑅 2 𝑣𝑠 𝑛 is a st. line with slope as 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑘.

Similarly, along the transverse (y – direction), applying the condition for constructive
1 1 𝜆
interference at ‘B’, we have, 𝑅 ∗2 [− 𝑟 ∗ + 𝑟 ] = 𝑛𝜆 or 𝑅 ∗2 = 𝑛 1 1
= 𝑘𝑛 …. (4). The –ve
1 0 [− ∗ + ]
𝑟1 𝑟0

sign indicates that the upper surface of the plate is hallowed out transversely.

Young’s modulus: During bending of the plate, an extension is caused on its upper
surface and compression on its lower surface. The internal bending moment caused by
𝑌𝐴𝐾2
extension of the surface above the plate and compression below is given by 𝐼 = ;
𝑅1
where Y is the young’s modulus of the given material, A = breadth (b) . thickness (d) –
𝑑
cross sectional area of the plate, 𝐾 = – is the radius of gyration for rectangular cross-
√12
section and 𝑅1 - the radius of curvature of the plate in the longitudinal direction.
In equilibrium condition, the internal bending moment must be balanced by the moment
due to weight m1g attached to its ends. ie. The couple produced due by a mass 𝑚1 should
balance the internal bending moment I.
𝑌𝐴𝐾2 𝑚1 𝑔𝐿𝑅1
𝑚1 𝑔𝐿 = or 𝑌 = …… (4) ; where ‘L’ is the distance b/w the knife edge and the
𝑅1 𝐴𝐾2
2 12(𝑚 −𝑚1 )𝑔𝐿
scale pan before loading. It can be shown that for masses 𝑚1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚2 , 𝑌 = 𝜆𝑏𝑑3 (𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃
2 −𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃1 )

……. (5) ; ‘𝜆′ - wave length of sodium yellow = 5893Å.

Poisson’s ratio (𝝈): The ratio of changes in the lateral curvature to the longitudinal
(𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃∗ −𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃∗ )
curvature during the bending of the plate. 𝜎 = (𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃1 −𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃2 ) …….. (6)
2 1

Formulae used:
𝟏𝟐(𝒎𝟐 −𝒎𝟏 )𝒈𝑳
a) Young’s modulus: 𝒀 = 𝑁𝑚−2
𝝀𝒃𝒅𝟑 (𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽𝟐 −𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽𝟏 )

(𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽∗ −𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽∗ )
b) Poisson’s ratio: 𝝈 = (𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽𝟏 −𝒄𝒐𝒕𝜽𝟐 )
𝟐 𝟏

𝒀
c) Rigidity modulus: 𝒏 = 𝟐(𝟏+𝝈) 𝑁𝑚−2

𝒀
d) Bulk modulus: 𝑲 = 𝟑(𝟏−𝟐𝝈) 𝑁𝑚−2
Experimental set up:

Fig. 2. Experimental set –up Fig. 3. Fringe pattern before and after loading

Procedure:
 The sodium vapour lamp is switched on and the inclined glass plate is set at 450 .
 The given plate (Perspex) is mounted on the two knife edges equidistantly and the
distance ‘L’ b/w the knife edge on one side to the point of suspension of mass
hanger is noted.
 The plano-convex lens is placed on the plate b/w the knife edges. Adjust the
position of the plano convex lens and the X-Y travelling microscope so as to obtain
concentric circular fringes.
 Load the mass hangers on both sides (𝑚1 =100gm) and suspend them from the
plate. Observe for elliptical fringes and position the cross wires of the travelling
microscope to the central dark fringe.
 For the calculating the longitudinal curvature, Starting from the central dark
fringe, note down the micrometer reading of even numbered dark fringes (2, 4, 6,
8, 10, 12) for one side (say left ie. along x-direction) and tabulate in the tabular
column 1.
 Bring the cross-wires to its initial position (centre) and move the travelling
microscope to the right side of the fringe pattern and note down the micrometer
reading for the same numbered rings (2,4,6,8,10,12) on the right side and tabulate
in tabular column 1.
 For calculating the lateral curvature (Transverse direction), Starting from the
central dark fringe, note down the micrometer reading of even numbered dark
fringes (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) for one side (say Top ie. along y-direction) and tabulate
in the tabular column 2.
 Bring the cross-wires to its initial position (centre) and move the travelling
microscope to the down side of the fringe pattern and note down the micrometer
reading for the same numbered rings (n = 2,4,6,8,10,12) on the down side and
tabulate in tabular column 2.
 The diameter of the rings is calculated and squared. From which 𝑅12 and 𝑅1∗2 is
calculated.
 A graph of 𝑅12 vs n is plotted and slope 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃1 is determined. From which 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃2 is
calculated. (Graph for𝑅12 and 𝑅1∗2 against n to shown separately).
 By changing the mass (𝑚2 =200gm), the procedure is repeated and the recordings
are tabulated in tabular column 3 and 4 respectively.

Observation:
1. Wave length of the monochromatic source used: ……………nm
2. Length ‘L’ of the given plate (knife-edge to the mass hanger): …….m
3. Breadth ‘b’ of the given plate: …………m
4. Thickness of the given plate: ………..m
5. Least count of the micrometer: ………mm (formula and simplification)

Tabular column 1.Longitudinal curvature 𝑹𝟐𝟏 and mass 𝒎𝟏 =100gm

Fringe Micrometer screw reading in mm D in mm 𝐷2 𝐷2
𝑚𝑚2 𝑅12=( )
no. ‘n’ Left Right (𝐿~𝑅) 2
−6 2
10 𝑚
2
4
6
8
10
12

Tabular column 2.Transverse curvature 𝑹∗𝟐

𝟏 and mass 𝒎𝟏 =100gm
Fringe Micrometer screw reading in mm D in mm 𝐷2 𝐷2
𝑚𝑚2 𝑅1∗2
=( )
no. ‘n’ Top Down (𝐿~𝑅) 2
−6 2
10 𝑚
2
4
6
8
10
12
Tabular column 3.Longitudinal curvature 𝑹𝟐𝟐 and mass 𝒎𝟐 =200gm
Fringe Micrometer screw reading in mm D in mm 𝐷2 𝐷2
𝑚𝑚2 𝑅22=( )
no. ‘n’ Left Right (𝐿~𝑅) 2
−6 2
10 𝑚
2
4
6
8
10
12

Tabular column 4.Transverse curvature 𝑹∗𝟐

𝟐 and mass 𝒎𝟐 =200gm
Fringe Micrometer screw reading in mm D in mm 𝐷2 𝐷2
𝑚𝑚2 𝑅2∗2 = ( )
no. ‘n’ Top Down (𝐿~𝑅) 2
10−6 𝑚2
2
4
6
8
10
12

Result: The elastic constants of the given Perspex material using Cornu’s interference
method are as follows,

a) Young’s modulus :……………….

b) Poisson’s ratio:……………………
c) Rigidity modulus:………………..
d) Bulk modulus:………………….