PHYSICS
PHYSICAL OPTICS
FORMULAE :
1. Intensity and amplitude are related asI  a2
2. Intensity of the resultant wave at any point
is
I = 4I0 cos2(/2) ; where I0 = a2 and  is
phase differece.
For maxima or bright fringe Imax = 4I0
For minima or dark fringe Imin = 0
Intensity ratios :
2 2
I1  a1  I max  a1  a2 
1)   2)   2
I 2  a2  I min  a1  a2 
CONCEPTUAL POINTS :
1. Any disturbance in the medium is called a
wave.
2. Characteristics of a wave are
i) amplitude ii) frequency
iii) wave velocity iv) phase
3. A wavefront is the locus of all points, which
are in the same phase.
4. A point source at a finite distance gives rise
to a spherical wavefront.
5. An extended source (like slit) at a finite
distance gives rise to a cylindrical wavefront.
6. A point source or an extended source at
infinity gives rise to a plane wavefront.
7. Huygen’s principle states that all points in a
wavefront generate secondary waves or
wavelets. Which travel normal to a
wavefront.
8. Interference is the modification of light
intensity due to the superposition of two or
more light waves.
9. Condition for maxima or constructive
interference is path difference = n (or)
phase difference = 2  n where n = 0, 1, 2,
3…. (Young’s double slit experiment.)
10. Condition for minima or destructive
interference is path difference = (2n + 1)/
2 (or) phase difference = (2n + 1)  where
n = 0, 1, 2, 3……(Young’s double slit
experiment.)
FORMULAE & DEFINITIONS
11. The sources of light which emit waves whose
phase difference is zero or constant and does
not vary with time are known as coherent
sources
12. In Young’s double slit experiment, the
displacements of two waves are
y1  a sin t ; y2  a sin(t   )
where a is amplitude of wave
 is angular frequency,,  is phase difference
Relation between phase difference and path
difference    x

13. Interference of light is used :
(i) To determine the thickness of a thin
transparent material
(ii) To determine the refractive index of a
liquid or a gas.
14. The bending of light waves around the edges
of obstacles is called diffraction.
15. The amount of bending depends upon the size
of the obstacle and the wave length of the
light.
16. Diffraction phenomena is due to superposition
of secondary waves emitted from a wave
front.
17. Diffraction can be explained by Huygens’ -
Fresnel principle. According to this principle
each point on a wave front, which is
unobstructed, acts as a source of secondary
waves. The secondary sources are mutually
coherent and the waves emitted by them
interfere.
18. Diffraction fringes are of unequal width.
19. Polaroid sheets are used as polarizers and
analyzers.
20. Polariods are used
(i) In sun glasses (ii) 3-D films or pictures.
21. A polaroid or a crystal which produces a
polarized light is called a polarizer.
22. A polaroid or a crystal which analyzes the
polarized light is called analizer.
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