WELFARE MISSION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

AFFLIATED TO CBSE, NEW DELHI

SESSION : 2023-2024

PROJECT FILE:
PHYSICS

WAVE OPTICS ( INTERFERENCE )

SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:

VEDIKA SINGH MR. NIRBHAY DIXIT
CLASS: 12 (PCB)
INTRODUCTION

Wave optics, also called physical optics deals with the study
of various phenomena such as polarization, diffraction,
interference and other occurrences where ray approximation
of geometric optics cannot be done.

INTERFERNCE:
 Interference of waves is the phenomenon when two
waves meet or superimpose each while traveling along
the same medium.
 In general, the individual waves do not affect one
another, and the total wave amplitude at any point in
space is simply the sum of the amplitudes of the
individual waves at that point.

TYPES OF INTERFERENCE
There are two types of Interference :
1. CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
2. DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE

CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
 It is a type of interference where the two interfering
waves have a displacement in the same direction.
 Constructive interference is observed at any location
where the two interfering waves are displaced upward.

 It is also observed when both interfering waves are

displaced downward.
DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
 It is a type of interference where the two interfering
waves have a displacement in the opposite direction.

PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION OF WAVES

 The principle of superposition of waves states that when
two or more waves are incident on the same point, the
 total displacement at that point is equal to the vector sum
of the displacements of the individual waves.
 If a crest of a wave meets a crest of another wave of the
same frequency at the same point, then the magnitude of
the displacement is the sum of the individual magnitudes,
this is constructive interference.
 If a crest of one wave meets a trough of another wave,
then the magnitude of the displacements is equal to the
difference in the individual magnitudes, this is known as
destructive interference.

 Constructive interference occurs when the phase

difference between the waves is a multiple of 2π
 Destructive interference occurs when the difference is an
odd multiple of π
 Interference is a phenomenon in which two waves
superimpose to form a resultant wave of greater or lower
amplitude intermediate between these two extremes, then
the magnitude of the displacement of the summed waves
lies between the minimum and maximum values.

Mechanism
1. Between two plane waves
2. Between two spherical waves
3. Radio
4. Optical interference
EXAMPLES
 Interference effects can be observed with all types of
waves, for example

 Light
 Radio
 Acoustic
 Surface water waves

YOUNG’S INTERFERENCE EXPERIMENT

(Thomas Young)

 Young’s interference experiment, also called young’s

double-slit interferometer, was the original version of
 the modern double-slit experiment, performed at the
beginning of the nineteenth century by Thomas Young.

 the results of the young’s double slit experiment should

be very different if light is a wave or a particle.

If light is a particle…
We set up our screen and shine a bunch of monochromatic
light onto it.
 If light is a particle, then only the couple of rays of rays
of light that hit exactly where the slits are will be able to
pass through.
 Imagine it as being almost as though we are spraying
paint from spray can through the openings.
 Since they are little particles, they will make a pattern of
two exact lines on the viewing screen.

If light is a wave…
If light is a wave, everything starts the same way, but results
we get are very different.
 They are still only two light rays that actually go through
the slits, but as soon as they pass through, they start to
diffract.
 Remember, diffraction is when light passes through a
small opening and starts to spread out. This will happen
from both openings.

 In young’s experiment, two very narrow parallel slits,

separated by a distance. Monochromatic light, from a
distant light-source, passes through the slits and
eventually hits a screen.
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λ¿ nL

 The light waves emanating from each slit are superposed

on the screen. If the waves are out of phase, then
destructive interference occurs, resulting in a dark patch
on the screen. on the other hand, if the waves are
completely in phase, then constructive interference
occurs, resulting in a light patch on the screen.
PHENOMENON OF INTERFERENCE
ACKNOWLDEGEMENT
IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE TO EXPRESS
HEART FILLED OF GRATITUDE TO MY PHYSICS
TEACHER MR. NIRBHAY DIXIT FOR PROVIDING
A HELPING HAND IN MAKING THIS PROJECT
AND INSTILLING IN THE DESIRE TO WORK. HIS
VALUEABLE GUIDANCE, SUPPORT AND
SUPERVISION THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TOPIC TO BECOME A
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANKS MY FAMILY

AND FRIENDS AS THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO
PUT FORWARD MY PROJECT.

CERTIFICATE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE PROJECT
ENTITLED “WAVE OPTICS (INTERFERENCE)” IS
BEING SUBMITTED BY VEDIKA SINGH CLASS 12
DURING THE YEAR OF 2023-2024 IN
PRACTICAL FULFILLMENT OF PHYSICS
PRACTICAL EXAMINATION CONDUCTED BY
CBSE, NEW DELHI.

DATE:
PLACE: KANPUR

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TEACHER’S SIGNATURE PRINCIPAL’S
SIGNATURE

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EXAMINER’S SIGNATURE
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 http://wikipedia.org
 http://www.google.com.in
 Class 12 NCERT textbook of physics
 www.google.com
 www.academic.edu