MICHELSON INTEREFROMETER VIVA QUESTIONS

Q. Define is Interference?

Q. What is the condition for Interference?

Q. Explain the LASER properties and what do you mean by a Coherent Source?

Q. Why you are using the LASER (monochromatic source) why not bulb or sunlight, tube
light?

Q. What is the role of a semi-silvered glass plate and why one keep it at 45 degrees?

Q. How do you think that a semi-silvered glass plate will look like?

Q. Why do you keep compensating plate in the path of the light ray, is it transparent or
semi-silvered plate?

Q. Is compensating plate of the same thickness as of first one or varies place to place?

Q. What is the relation between path difference and phase difference?

Q. Which one is fixed mirror M1 or M2 in the Michelson Interferometer experiment?

Q. M1 and M2 mirror are at 90 degrees or more?

Q. Where forms the image of the M2 mirror by a semi-silvered glass plate?

Q: What is the working principle of Michelson interferometer?

Q: State the principle and describe the construction and working of Michelson
Interferometer.
Principle: It works on the principle of interference of light by the division of amplitude in light
from an extended source is divided into two parts of equal intensity by partial reflection and
refraction.

Q: What are the applications of Michelson interferometer?

The Michelson interferometer and its modifications are used in the optical industry for
testing lenses and prisms, for measuring index of refraction, and for examining minute
details of surfaces (microtopographies).

Q: Which lens is used in Michelson interferometer?

convex lens
In the lab, you will use a convex lens to disperse a laser light source. With a dispersed beam,
the interferometer produces an interference pattern on the screen instead of a single point.
Q: How many fringes are there in a Michelson interferometer?
Types of fringes:

Mirror M1 and the virtual image of mirror M2 act as the two surfaces of an air film. The
fringes formed in Michelson interferometer may be circular, curved or straight depending
upon the nature of the air film.

Q: Why telescope is used in Michelson interferometer?

In Michelson interferometer, fringe pattern is seen behind the mirror and it tends to appear
from an infinite distance. Hence, a telescope is required for measurements

Q: Why monochromatic light is used in Michelson interferometer?

If an interferometer is used with light that is effectively monochromatic, such as a laser with
a long coherence length, then the phase plate is not needed, and the light from the two
paths will interfere.

Q: Why fringes are formed?

The dark and the bright fringes are formed due to interference. Thomas Young demonstrated
the phenomenon of interference by a simple experiment called the double slit experiment. In
the experiment, two slits were illuminated by a monochromatic source of light.

Q: How many mirrors are used in Michelson interferometer?

Two mirrors
The Michelson interferometer consists of two mirrors, M1 and M2, arranged , with a
beamsplitter inclined at 45° to the mirrors. The collimated beam of laser light is incident on
the beamsplitter, and it is divided into two beams when it strikes the partially reflecting
surface on the beamsplitter.

Q: How does a Michelson interferometer measure wavelength?

The Michelson interferometer uses the wave-like properties of light to cause interference
patterns. In this experiment, we use a monochromatic coherent light source, a red laser, with
the Michelson interferometer to observe interference patterns in order to determine the
wavelength of the light source.