Q.In a Young's double slit experiment, the source is white light. One of the holes is covered by a red filter and another by a blue filter. In this case
Concept understanding — Double Slit Interference
Double Slit Interference: From Ripples to Light
Imagine dropping two stones into a still pond at the same time, a short distance apart. Watch the ripples spread. Where a crest from one stone meets a crest from the other, the water rises higher. Where a crest meets a trough, the water flattens out. That is interference — waves adding or cancelling.
Now replace the water with light. Replace the stones with two narrow slits cut into a barrier. Shine a single colour of light (say, red laser light) onto the slits. On a screen behind the barrier, you do not see two bright spots. Instead, you see a pattern of alternating bright and dark bands — like a striped zebra crossing made of light.
That pattern is double slit interference. It is the single most convincing proof that light behaves as a wave.
The Core Idea
Light from a single source passes through two narrow slits. Each slit acts as a new source of waves. These two sets of waves spread out and overlap. At any point on the screen, the light you see is the sum of the waves from slit 1 and slit 2.
Whether they add (bright) or cancel (dark) depends on one thing: the path difference — how much farther one wave has travelled compared to the other.
For constructive interference (bright band): path difference = nλ (whole number of wavelengths)
For destructive interference (dark band): path difference = (n+21)λ (half-integer number of wavelengths)
Here λ is the wavelength of the light, and n=0,1,2,…
The Geometry
Let the slits be separated by distance d. The screen is far away at distance D (D≫d). For a point on the screen at angle θ from the centre:
- The path difference Δx=dsinθ
- Bright bands occur when dsinθ=nλ
- Dark bands occur when dsinθ=(n+21)λ
The position y of the n-th bright band on the screen (measured from the centre) is:
yn=dnλD
The spacing between consecutive bright bands (fringe width) is:
β=dλD
Fringe width β=dλD
What This Tells You
- Larger λ → wider fringes (red light spreads more than blue)
- Larger D → wider fringes (screen further away spreads the pattern)
- Smaller d → wider fringes (slits closer together spread the pattern more)
If you cover one slit, the pattern vanishes — you get a single blurry blob. The stripes only appear when both slits are open, proving that the light from the two slits is interfering.
Why It Matters
Double slit interference is not a classroom toy. It is the foundation of:
- Young's experiment (1801) — which settled the debate: light is a wave
- Diffraction gratings — used in spectrometers to identify elements by their light
- Quantum mechanics — the same experiment with single particles (electrons, atoms) shows that even matter behaves like a wave
A common mistake: thinking the bright bands are caused by light "bouncing" off the edges of the slits. They are not. They are caused by the overlap of waves from the two slits. The slits themselves are just sources — the interference happens in the space beyond them.
The Takeaway
Double slit interference is the simplest example of wave superposition. Two waves, same source, different paths. Where they arrive in step, you get brightness. Where they arrive out of step, you get darkness. The pattern is a direct map of the path difference — a ruler for the wavelength of light itself.
The central result: bright fringes at dsinθ=nλ, dark fringes at dsinθ=(n+21)λ, with fringe width β=λD/d.
Young's double slit experiment and its interference pattern are a cornerstone of the NCERT Class 12 Physics Wave Optics chapter, and "double slit interference formula and fringe width numericals" is among the most searched topics for CBSE boards, JEE Main, and NEET physics preparation. This concept also frequently appears in "wave optics important questions" lists because it tests both conceptual understanding and calculation in a single problem.
Why this formula?
Double Slit Interference: Why the Formula Holds
Let's build the understanding from first principles — not just memorise the formula, but see why it must be true.
1. The Core Idea: Path Difference Creates Phase Difference
Imagine two narrow slits S1 and S2, separated by distance d, illuminated by a single coherent source. Light from each slit travels to a point P on a screen at distance D (where D≫d).
- The two waves start in phase at the slits (same source).
- They travel different distances to reach P.
- This path difference Δx causes a phase difference Δϕ.
Key relation:
Δϕ=λ2π⋅Δx
Why? Because one full wavelength λ corresponds to a phase change of 2π radians.
2. Finding the Path Difference
From the geometry (see diagram in any textbook):
- For a point P at angle θ from the central axis, the extra distance travelled by the wave from the farther slit is approximately:
Δx=dsinθ
Why approximate? Because we assume D≫d, so the two paths are nearly parallel. This is the Fraunhofer (far-field) approximation — valid for most exam setups.
3. Condition for Constructive Interference (Bright Fringes)
Waves interfere constructively when they arrive in phase:
Δϕ=2πm(m=0,±1,±2,…)
Using Δϕ=λ2π⋅dsinθ, we get:
λ2π⋅dsinθ=2πm
Cancel 2π to obtain the bright fringe condition:
dsinθ=mλ
- m is called the order of the fringe.
- m=0 gives the central bright fringe (straight ahead).
4. Condition for Destructive Interference (Dark Fringes)
Waves interfere destructively when they arrive out of phase by π (half a cycle):
Δϕ=(2m+1)π
Substitute again:
λ2π⋅dsinθ=(2m+1)π
Cancel π to get the dark fringe condition:
dsinθ=(m+21)λ
5. From Angle to Position on Screen
For small angles (typical in exam problems), sinθ≈tanθ=Dy, where y is the distance from the central maximum on the screen.
Bright fringe position:
ym=dmλD
Dark fringe position:
ym=d(m+21)λD
Fringe width (distance between two consecutive bright or dark fringes):
β=dλD
6. Why This Makes Physical Sense
- Larger slit separation d → fringes get closer (smaller β). Reason: path difference changes faster with angle.
- Larger wavelength λ → fringes get wider. Reason: longer waves need more path difference to shift phase.
- Larger screen distance D → fringes spread out. Reason: same angular separation translates to larger linear separation.
7. Exam-Ready Summary
| Condition | Formula | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bright fringe | dsinθ=mλ | Waves arrive in phase |
| Dark fringe | dsinθ=(m+21)λ | Waves arrive exactly out of phase |
| Fringe width | β=dλD | From small-angle approximation |
Remember: The derivation rests on three pillars:
- Path difference = dsinθ
- Phase difference = λ2π× path difference
- Constructive/destructive conditions from wave superposition
Master the why, and the formula becomes unforgettable.
Concept: Double Slit Interference — interference requires coherent sources (same frequency and constant phase difference). Filters of different colours produce light of different wavelengths, hence different frequencies.
- The red filter transmits only red light (frequency fr), and the blue filter transmits only blue light (frequency fb). Since fr=fb, the two emerging waves have different frequencies.
- For sustained interference, the sources must be coherent — same frequency and a fixed phase relationship. Here, the two waves have different frequencies, so their phase difference changes continuously with time.
- The time-averaged intensity at any point on the screen becomes uniform — no stationary bright or dark fringes are formed.
Option (c). No interference pattern is observed because the two sources are incoherent (different frequencies).
The interference pattern disappears because the two slits now emit coherent light of different wavelengths, which cannot produce a stable, sustained interference pattern — the condition for interference (same frequency/wavelength) is violated. This matches option (c): no interference fringes.
The Core Idea: Why Interference Needs Identical Wavelengths
Young's double slit experiment works because light from a single source is split into two coherent beams. Coherence means the waves maintain a constant phase difference — they come from the same source and have the same frequency (and therefore the same wavelength in a given medium).
When you place a red filter over one slit and a blue filter over the other, you are fundamentally changing the light emerging from each slit:
- Red filter transmits only red light (longer wavelength, ~700 nm)
- Blue filter transmits only blue light (shorter wavelength, ~450 nm)
These are different colours — different frequencies, different wavelengths. The two beams are no longer coherent with each other in the sense required for sustained interference.
Step-by-Step Reasoning
1. The fundamental condition for interference
For two waves to produce a stable interference pattern (bright and dark fringes that don't shift randomly), they must have:
- The same frequency (or wavelength)
- A constant phase difference at each point
This is why Young used a single source split into two paths — it guarantees both conditions.
2. What the filters do
A red filter allows only red wavelengths to pass; a blue filter allows only blue wavelengths. The light emerging from slit 1 is red (λR≈700 nm), and from slit 2 is blue (λB≈450 nm). These are different frequencies — the red light oscillates at a lower frequency than the blue light.
A common mistake is to think that because both are "light", they will still interfere. But interference requires identical frequencies — two waves of different frequencies produce a beating pattern that averages to zero over time, not stationary fringes.
3. What happens at the screen
At any point on the screen, the electric fields from the two slits add:
Etotal=ERsin(ωRt+ϕR)+EBsin(ωBt+ϕB)
Since ωR=ωB, the phase difference (ωR−ωB)t+(ϕR−ϕB) changes continuously with time. The eye (or any detector) averages over many cycles, and the time-averaged intensity becomes simply the sum of the individual intensities:
I=IR+IB
There is no interference term 2IRIBcos(Δϕ) because Δϕ is not constant — it varies so rapidly that its average is zero.
Think of it like two musicians playing different notes — you hear both notes, but you don't get a stationary "interference" pattern of loud and quiet spots. The same principle applies to light waves.
4. What you actually see on the screen
You will see:
- A uniform red glow from the red slit's light
- A uniform blue glow from the blue slit's light
- Where they overlap, you see purple/magenta (the additive mixture of red and blue)
But there are no alternating bright and dark fringes — no interference pattern. This rules out options (a), (b), and (d), all of which assume some form of interference pattern persists.
This is a classic exam trap: students assume that because both slits are illuminated, interference must occur. The key insight is that coherence requires identical wavelengths, and filters destroy that condition.
The Final Answer
Option (c). No interference pattern is observed; the screen shows a uniform mixture of red and blue light (appearing purple/magenta where they overlap).
Method: Checking Whether Two Sources Remain Coherent
Use this whenever a double-slit (or similar interference) setup is modified — e.g. by filters, different media, or unequal path lengths — and you need to decide whether fringes still form.
Steps
Step 1: Recall the two conditions for sustained interference
Stable, observable fringes require the two interfering waves to be coherent: (a) the same frequency/wavelength, and (b) a phase difference that stays constant in time.
Step 2: Identify exactly what the modification changes
Ask specifically: does the change alter the frequency of the light reaching each slit? A colour filter, for instance, restricts each slit to a different narrow wavelength band — a direct violation of condition (a).
Step 3: Reason about the resulting phase relationship
If the two waves now have different frequencies ω1=ω2, their relative phase (ω1−ω2)t+Δϕ0 changes continuously with time rather than staying fixed. Any detector (eye, screen, sensor) averages over many cycles, so this time-varying term averages to zero.
Step 4: Determine what is observed as a result
With no constant interference term, the observed intensity is simply the incoherent sum I=I1+I2 — a steady overlap/mixture with no bright-dark fringes, rather than the usual I=I1+I2+2I1I2cosϕ pattern.
Step 5: Generalize
Any change that makes the two paths carry different frequencies (differently coloured filters, one path passing through a frequency-shifting element, etc.) destroys interference this same way — this reasoning chain applies regardless of the specific colours or setup named in the question.
Showing the 12 most recent of 30 on this concept.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.When monochromatic light of wavelength λ is used in Young's double slit experiment, if I is the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is 3λ, then the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference becomes λ is (A) 2I (B) 3I (C) 4I (D) I
›Reveal solutionSolution
The intensity in Young’s double-slit experiment depends on the phase difference via I=I0cos2(Δϕ/2). For path difference λ/3, the phase is 2π/3, giving I=I0/4; for path difference λ, the phase is 2π, giving I0. Thus the second intensity is 4 times the first, so the answer is 4I.
Concept & Intuition
In Young’s double-slit experiment, the two waves from the slits are coherent and have the same amplitude. The intensity at any point on the screen is determined by the phase difference between them, which is directly proportional to the path difference. The key relation is:
Phase difference Δϕ=λ2π×(path difference)
Intensity I=I0cos2(2Δϕ), where I0 is the maximum intensity (at a bright fringe).
The problem gives two specific path differences; we compute the corresponding intensities and compare them.
Step-by-step reasoning
- Find the phase difference for path difference λ/3
Δϕ1=λ2π⋅3λ=32π
This is 120∘, a point between a bright and a dark fringe.
- Compute the intensity I at that point
I=I0cos2(2Δϕ1)=I0cos2(3π)=I0(21)2=4I0
So I=I0/4, meaning the given I is one-quarter of the maximum possible intensity.
- Find the phase difference for path difference λ
Δϕ2=λ2π⋅λ=2π
This corresponds to a full cycle — a bright fringe (constructive interference).
- Compute the intensity at that point
I2=I0cos2(22π)=I0cos2(π)=I0⋅1=I0
So the intensity here is the maximum I0.
- Relate I2 to the given I Since I=I0/4, we have I0=4I. Therefore I2=4I.
Watch outA common mistake is to think intensity is proportional to path difference directly. It is not — intensity depends on the cosine-squared of half the phase difference. Always convert path difference to phase difference first.
TipNotice that at path difference λ/3, the intensity is I0/4, which is less than half the maximum. At path difference λ, it’s the full maximum. So the ratio is exactly 4.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.If the rms value of the electric field of an electromagnetic wave propagating in free space is 30π V m−1, then the intensity of the wave is (A) 30 W m−2 (B) 3.75 W m−2 (C) 15 W m−2 (D) 7.5 W m−2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The intensity of an electromagnetic wave in free space is given by I=21cε0E02, where E0 is the peak electric field. Using the rms value Erms=30π V/m, we find I=7.5 W/m2, so the correct option is (D).
The key concept here is the intensity of an electromagnetic wave — the average power per unit area it carries. For a wave in free space, intensity is directly related to the square of the electric field amplitude. Since the problem gives the rms (root-mean-square) field, we must first convert to the peak field, because the standard formula uses the amplitude.
Why this approach works:
The intensity I is the time-averaged Poynting vector magnitude. For a sinusoidal wave, the average of sin2 over a cycle is 1/2, so the intensity depends on the square of the peak field. The rms value is Erms=E0/2, so we can easily go from rms to peak and then compute intensity.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Recall the intensity formula for an EM wave in free space. The intensity (average power per unit area) is
I=21cε0E02,
where c=3×108 m/s is the speed of light, ε0=8.85×10−12 F/m is the permittivity of free space, and E0 is the peak electric field.
- Relate the given rms field to the peak field. For a sinusoidal wave,
Erms=2E0⇒E0=2Erms.
Here Erms=30π V/m, so
E0=2⋅30π=302π V/m.
- Substitute into the intensity formula.
I=21cε0(302π)2.
Square the field:
(302π)2=900⋅2π=1800π.
So
I=21cε0⋅1800π=900πcε0.
- Use the known value of cε0. A useful identity: cε0=μ0c1, but more directly,
cε0=3771 S(since the impedance of free space η0=ε0μ0≈377 Ω).
Actually, cε0=η01≈3771 A/V. But let’s compute numerically:
cε0=(3×108)×(8.85×10−12)=2.655×10−3 A/V.
Then
I=900π×2.655×10−3≈900×3.1416×2.655×10−3.
First, 900×3.1416=2827.44. Multiply by 2.655×10−3:
2827.44×0.002655≈7.5 W/m2.
Alternatively, use the exact relation:
cε0=μ0c1=4π×10−7×3×1081=120π1≈3771.
Then
I=900π⋅120π1=120900=7.5 W/m2.
This is cleaner and exact.
TipRemember the shortcut: cε0=1/(120π) in SI units. This often simplifies intensity calculations with π factors.
- Match with the options. The result 7.5 W/m2 corresponds to option (D).
Watch outA common mistake is to plug the rms value directly into I=21cε0Erms2 without converting to peak. That would give half the correct answer (3.75 W/m², option B). Always check: the formula uses the amplitude, not rms.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D).
ANSWER: D
- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-04-FN1 markMCQQ.In Young’s double slit experiment, when a screen is placed at a distance of 1.2 m from the plane of the slits, the fringe width is 2 mm. If the setup is immersed in a liquid of refractive index 1.25 and the screen is moved to a distance of 1.8 m from the slits, then the fringe width is (A) 2.4 mm (B) 1.6 mm (C) 2.1 mm (D) 1.8 mm
›Reveal solutionSolution
Fringe width depends on wavelength and geometry; immersion in a liquid reduces wavelength by refractive index, and moving the screen changes the distance. The new fringe width is 2.4 mm.
The key idea in Young’s double slit experiment is that fringe width β is given by β=dλD, where λ is the wavelength of light in the medium, D is the distance from the slits to the screen, and d is the slit separation. When the setup is immersed in a liquid, the wavelength changes because the frequency stays the same but the speed of light decreases — so λliquid=nλair, where n is the refractive index. The slit separation d is a physical constant and does not change.
We are given two situations: first in air, then in a liquid with a different screen distance. The fringe width changes due to both the change in wavelength and the change in D. Let’s work through it step by step.
-
Write the fringe width in air.
In air, β1=dλairD1, with D1=1.2 m and β1=2 mm=2×10−3 m.
-
Write the fringe width in the liquid.
In the liquid, the wavelength becomes λliquid=nλair, where n=1.25. The new screen distance is D2=1.8 m. So
β2=dλliquidD2=ndλairD2.
- Relate the two fringe widths. From the first expression, dλair=D1β1. Substitute this into the second:
β2=D1β1⋅nD2=β1⋅nD1D2.
- Plug in the numbers.
β2=2 mm×1.25×1.21.8=2×1.51.8=2×1.2=2.4 mm.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that the wavelength changes in the liquid, or to incorrectly apply the refractive index to D or d. Only the wavelength is affected — d is fixed, and D is a separate experimental parameter.
TipNotice that the ratio nD1D2 simplifies nicely: 1.8/(1.25×1.2)=1.8/1.5=1.2. So the fringe width increases by a factor of 1.2 from the original 2 mm.
✓Final answerThe fringe width is 2.4 mm, which corresponds to option (A).
-
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-FN1 markMCQQ.Two sound waves each of intensity I are superimposed. If the phase difference between the waves is 2π, then the intensity of the resultant wave is (A) 2I (B) 3I (C) 4I (D) I
›Reveal solutionSolution
When two waves of equal intensity I interfere with a phase difference of π/2, the resultant intensity is simply 2I — the same as incoherent addition, because the cosine term in the interference formula vanishes.
The key concept here is interference of coherent waves. When two waves of the same frequency and amplitude overlap, the resultant intensity depends on the phase difference ϕ between them. The formula for the resultant intensity when two waves of equal intensity I0 interfere is:
Iresultant=I1+I2+2I1I2cosϕ
Since both waves have intensity I, we have I1=I2=I. The phase difference is given as ϕ=π/2.
- Plug in the values
Iresultant=I+I+2I⋅Icos(2π)
- Evaluate the cosine
cos(2π)=0
- Simplify The interference term vanishes, leaving:
Iresultant=I+I=2I
TipA phase difference of π/2 (or 90∘) is special: the waves are exactly “out of step” by a quarter wavelength, so they neither fully reinforce nor fully cancel — they simply add in intensity like two independent sources.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that any phase difference other than 0 or π gives an intensity between 0 and 4I, but forgetting that cos(π/2)=0 makes the interference term disappear entirely, giving exactly 2I.
Thus, the resultant intensity is 2I.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A).
ANSWER: A
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-FN1 markMCQQ.In Young’s double slit experiment with light of wavelength λ, the intensity of light at a point on the screen where the path difference becomes 3λ is (I is intensity of the central bright fringe) (A) I (B) 2I (C) 3I (D) 4I
›Reveal solutionSolution
The intensity at a point with path difference λ/3 is I/4, because the phase difference is 2π/3 and the two-slit interference formula gives Inet=4I0cos2(Δϕ/2), with I=4I0 at the central maximum.
The key idea is that in Young’s double‑slit experiment, the intensity at any point on the screen depends only on the phase difference between the two waves arriving there. The central bright fringe (path difference = 0) has maximum intensity I. When the path difference is λ/3, the phase difference is 2π/3, and the interference formula directly gives the reduced intensity.
Why this approach works
The superposition of two identical waves (same amplitude A0, same frequency) yields a resultant amplitude A=2A0cos(Δϕ/2), where Δϕ is the phase difference. Intensity is proportional to the square of amplitude, so Inet=4I0cos2(Δϕ/2), where I0 is the intensity from one slit alone. At the central maximum, Δϕ=0, so I=4I0. Once we find Δϕ from the given path difference, we can compute the ratio Inet/I.
Step‑by‑step solution
- Relate path difference to phase difference. For a wave of wavelength λ, a path difference Δx corresponds to a phase difference
Δϕ=λ2π⋅Δx.
Here Δx=λ/3, so
Δϕ=λ2π⋅3λ=32π.
- Write the general intensity formula for two‑slit interference. If each slit alone produces intensity I0 at the screen, the combined intensity when the phase difference is Δϕ is
Inet=4I0cos2(2Δϕ).
This comes from A=2A0cos(Δϕ/2) and I∝A2.
- Find I0 in terms of the central maximum intensity I. At the central bright fringe, Δϕ=0, so cos(0)=1 and
I=4I0⇒I0=4I.
- Plug Δϕ=2π/3 into the formula.
Inet=4I0cos2(22π/3)=4I0cos2(3π).
Since cos(π/3)=1/2, we have cos2(π/3)=1/4. Thus
Inet=4I0⋅41=I0.
- Express Inet in terms of I. Using I0=I/4,
Inet=4I.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that intensity is proportional to path difference directly. It is not — the relation is via the cosine‑squared of half the phase difference. A path difference of λ/3 does not give intensity I/3.
TipRemember the key angles: Δϕ=π gives zero intensity, Δϕ=2π/3 gives I/4, Δϕ=π/2 gives I/2, and Δϕ=0 gives I. These are worth memorising for quick multiple‑choice checks.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D).
ANSWER: D
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-29-AN1 markMCQQ.The wavelength of the monochromatic light used in Young's double slit experiment is 550 nm and the screen is placed at a distance of 120 cm from the plane of the slits. If third dark fringe is formed on the screen at a distance of 1.5 mm from the central bright fringe, then the distance of separation between the two slits is (A) 5.5 mm (B) 1.1 mm (C) 2.2 mm (D) 3.3 mm
›Reveal solutionSolution
This problem involves Young's Double Slit Experiment, specifically the position of a dark fringe. We use the formula for the position of the n-th dark fringe to find the slit separation. The distance of separation between the two slits is 1.1 mm.
In Young's Double Slit Experiment (YDSE), when monochromatic light passes through two narrow slits, an interference pattern of alternating bright and dark fringes is observed on a screen. This pattern arises from the superposition of waves from the two slits.
Concept of Dark Fringes
Dark fringes occur at points on the screen where the waves from the two slits interfere destructively. Destructive interference happens when the path difference between the waves arriving at a point is an odd multiple of half the wavelength.
That is, path difference Δx=(n−21)λ, where n=1,2,3,… for the first, second, third dark fringes, and so on.
For a typical YDSE setup where the screen is far from the slits (D≫d), the position yn of the n-th dark fringe from the central bright fringe is given by:
yn=(n−21)dλD
where:
- yn is the distance of the n-th dark fringe from the central bright fringe.
- n is the order of the dark fringe (n=1 for the first, n=2 for the second, etc.).
- λ is the wavelength of the light.
- D is the distance between the slits and the screen.
- d is the distance of separation between the two slits.
We are given the values for λ, D, yn, and the order of the dark fringe (n=3). We need to find d.
-
Identify Given Parameters and Convert to SI Units:
- Wavelength of light, λ=550 nm=550×10−9 m
- Distance of the screen from the slits, D=120 cm=1.20 m
- Position of the third dark fringe, y3=1.5 mm=1.5×10−3 m
- Order of the dark fringe, n=3
-
Apply the Formula for the Position of the Dark Fringe:
For the third dark fringe, we set n=3 in the formula:
y3=(3−21)dλD
y3=25dλD
-
Rearrange the Formula to Solve for Slit Separation (d):
We need to find d, so we rearrange the equation:
d=25y3λD
-
Substitute the Given Values and Calculate d:
Substitute the values we identified in Step 1 into the rearranged formula:
d=25×1.5×10−3 m(550×10−9 m)×(1.20 m)
d=2×1.55×550×1.20×10−310−9 m
d=33300×10−6 m
d=1100×10−6 m
d=1.1×10−3 m
-
Convert the Result to Millimeters (mm):
Since 1 mm=10−3 m, we have:
d=1.1 mm
The distance of separation between the two slits is 1.1 mm. This corresponds to option (B).
✓Final answerThe distance of separation between the two slits is 1.1 mm.
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-29-FN1 markMCQQ.In an experiment, the angular width of interference fringes for a light of wavelength 5896 A˚ is found to be 3.5×10−3 radian. The wavelength of light for which the angular width of the fringes becomes 10% greater is (A) 5306.4 A˚ (B) 5886 A˚ (C) 5906 A˚ (D) 6485.6 A˚
›Reveal solutionSolution
The angular width of interference fringes is directly proportional to the wavelength of light. To achieve a 10% greater angular width, the wavelength must also increase by 10%, leading to a new wavelength of 6485.6 A˚.
The phenomenon of interference produces a pattern of alternating bright and dark fringes on a screen. The angular width of these fringes refers to the angle subtended by the distance between two consecutive bright or dark fringes at the position of the slits. This angular width is a crucial characteristic of the interference pattern, as it describes how spread out the fringes appear.
For a Young's Double Slit Experiment (YDSE), the linear fringe width, β, which is the distance between two consecutive bright or dark fringes on the screen, is given by the formula:
β=dλD
where λ is the wavelength of light, D is the distance between the slits and the screen, and d is the distance between the two slits.
The angular width, θ, is defined as the linear fringe width divided by the distance to the screen:
θ=Dβ
Substituting the expression for β:
θ=D(λD/d)=dλ
The angular width of interference fringes is given by:
θ=dλ
where λ is the wavelength of light and d is the distance between the slits.
From this formula, it is clear that for a given experimental setup (where d is constant), the angular width θ is directly proportional to the wavelength λ of the light used.
θ∝λ
This direct proportionality is the key concept for solving this problem. If the angular width increases, the wavelength must also increase by the same proportion, assuming the slit separation d remains unchanged.
Let's apply this understanding to the problem:
-
Identify the initial conditions:
We are given the initial wavelength of light, λ1, and the initial angular width of the fringes, θ1.
- Initial wavelength, λ1=5896 A˚
- Initial angular width, θ1=3.5×10−3 radian
-
Determine the new angular width:
The problem states that the angular width of the fringes becomes 10% greater. This means the new angular width, θ2, will be 100%+10%=110% of the initial angular width.
- θ2=θ1+0.10θ1=1.10θ1
- θ2=1.10×(3.5×10−3 radian)
- θ2=3.85×10−3 radian
-
Apply the proportionality relationship:
Since the angular width is directly proportional to the wavelength (θ∝λ), we can set up a ratio relating the initial and final states:
θ1θ2=λ1λ2
We know $\theta_2 = 1.10 \theta_1$, so substituting this into the ratio:θ11.10θ1=λ1λ2
1.10=λ1λ2
- Calculate the new wavelength: Now, we can solve for the new wavelength, λ2:
λ2=1.10×λ1
Substitute the value of $\lambda_1$:λ2=1.10×5896 A˚
λ2=6485.6 A˚
- Compare with the given options: The calculated new wavelength is 6485.6 A˚. Comparing this with the given options: (A) 5306.4 A˚ (B) 5886 A˚ (C) 5906 A˚ (D) 6485.6 A˚ The calculated value matches option (D).
✓Final answerThe wavelength of light for which the angular width of the fringes becomes 10% greater is 6485.6 A˚.
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- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-09-FN1 markMCQQ.Young’s double slit experiment is performed with monochromatic light of wavelength 6000 A˚. If the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference of 2000 A˚ is I1 and the intensity of light at a point on the screen where the path difference is 1000 A˚ is I2, then I1:I2= (A) 1:3 (B) 2:1 (C) 1:1 (D) 4:5
›Reveal solutionSolution
In Young’s double slit experiment, intensity depends on the phase difference via I=I0cos2(Δϕ/2). The path differences given correspond to phase differences that yield intensity ratio I1:I2=1:3, so the correct option is (A).
Concept and intuition
In Young’s double slit experiment, the intensity at any point on the screen is not simply proportional to the path difference itself, but to the cosine-squared of half the phase difference. The phase difference is Δϕ=λ2π×(path difference). So the key is: convert each path difference into a phase difference, then compute the relative intensities. A common mistake is to think intensity is proportional to path difference directly — that would give a wrong ratio. Instead, the interference pattern’s brightness oscillates sinusoidally.
Step-by-step solution
- Write the relation between path difference and phase difference For a wavelength λ, a path difference Δx gives a phase difference
Δϕ=λ2πΔx.
Here λ=6000 A˚.
- Compute the phase difference for each case
- For Δx1=2000 A˚:
Δϕ1=60002π×2000=32π.
- For Δx2=1000 A˚:
Δϕ2=60002π×1000=3π.
- Recall the intensity formula In Young’s double slit, if each slit alone gives intensity I0, the combined intensity at a phase difference Δϕ is
I=4I0cos2(2Δϕ).
(The factor 4I0 is the maximum intensity; it cancels in a ratio.)
- Find the intensities I1 and I2
- For Δϕ1=2π/3:
I1=4I0cos2(3π)=4I0(21)2=4I0⋅41=I0.
- For Δϕ2=π/3:
I2=4I0cos2(6π)=4I0(23)2=4I0⋅43=3I0.
- Form the ratio
I1:I2=I0:3I0=1:3.
Watch outA common pitfall is to think intensity is proportional to path difference itself. That would give 2000:1000=2:1, which is option (B) — a tempting but incorrect answer. Always use the phase-dependent cosine-squared relation.
TipNotice that a path difference of λ/3 (here 2000 A˚) gives a phase of 2π/3, and cos(π/3)=1/2, so intensity is 1/4 of maximum. A path difference of λ/6 gives cos(π/6)=3/2, so intensity is 3/4 of maximum. The ratio 1:3 follows directly.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A).
ANSWER: A
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.The work done in blowing a soap bubble of volume V is W. The work done in blowing the bubble of volume 2V from the same soap solution is (A) 2W (B) 2W (C) (2)31W (D) (4)31W
›Reveal solutionSolution
The work done in blowing a soap bubble is proportional to its surface area, not its volume. Since surface area scales as (volume)^{2/3}, doubling the volume multiplies the work by 22/3=41/3. The correct option is (D).
The key concept here is that work done in blowing a soap bubble equals the increase in surface energy, which is proportional to the surface area of the bubble (since the soap solution has constant surface tension). A common mistake is to think work scales with volume — but a bubble has two surfaces (inner and outer), and the work is entirely about stretching the film.
- Relate work to surface area For a soap bubble of radius r, the total surface area (both inner and outer surfaces) is 2×4πr2=8πr2. The work done W is the product of surface tension T and the increase in area:
W=T⋅8πr2.
So W∝r2.
- Relate radius to volume Volume of a sphere is V=34πr3, so r∝V1/3. Therefore, surface area ∝r2∝V2/3, and hence
W∝V2/3.
- Apply to the new volume If the original volume is V, work is W=kV2/3 for some constant k. For volume 2V, the work W′ is
W′=k(2V)2/3=kV2/3⋅22/3=W⋅22/3.
- Simplify the exponent 22/3=(22)1/3=41/3. So W′=41/3W.
Watch outA classic pitfall is to assume work scales linearly with volume, giving 2W (not an option) or with radius, giving 32W (option C). Always remember: work is about surface area, not volume.
TipA quick sanity check: if you double the radius, volume goes up 8×, but work only goes up 4× (since area scales as r2). Here volume doubles, so radius increases by 21/3, and work increases by (21/3)2=22/3.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D).
ANSWER: D
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.An inductor of inductive reactance R, a capacitor of capacitive reactance 2R and a resistor of resistance R are connected in series to an ac source. The power factor of the series LCR circuit is (A) 21 (B) 31 (C) 41 (D) 23
›Reveal solutionSolution
The power factor is the cosine of the phase angle between voltage and current, given by R/Z. Here XL=R, XC=2R, so net reactance X=−R, impedance Z=R2+R2=R2, giving power factor 1/2. The correct option is (A).
Concept & Intuition
In an AC series circuit, the power factor tells us what fraction of the apparent power is actually doing real work. It equals cosϕ, where ϕ is the phase difference between voltage and current. For a series LCR circuit, the impedance Z combines resistance R and net reactance X=XL−XC via Z=R2+X2. The power factor is then cosϕ=R/Z. The trick here is that the inductive reactance and capacitive reactance are given as multiples of R, so we can compute X and Z purely in terms of R.
Step-by-step solution
-
Identify the given reactances
Inductive reactance XL=R (yes, the problem uses R for both resistance and reactance — careful!).
Capacitive reactance XC=2R.
Resistance R (same symbol, but it’s the resistor’s value).
-
Find the net reactance
In a series circuit, net reactance X=XL−XC=R−2R=−R.
The negative sign means the circuit is capacitive overall (current leads voltage), but magnitude is what matters for impedance.
-
Compute the impedance magnitude
Z=R2+X2=R2+(−R)2=2R2=R2.
- Power factor
Power factor=cosϕ=ZR=R2R=21.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that the net reactance is the difference XL−XC, not the sum. Using X=R+2R=3R would give Z=R2+9R2=R10 and a wrong power factor of 1/10.
TipNotice that the power factor depends only on the ratio of net reactance to resistance. Here ∣X∣=R, so the impedance triangle is a right isosceles triangle — the phase angle is 45∘, giving cos45∘=1/2.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A).
ANSWER: A
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- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-12-AN1 markMCQQ.If the slit width is 2 mm and wavelength of light used is 4000 A˚, then Fresnel distance is nearly (A) 2 mm (B) 10 m (C) 20 km (D) 2 μm
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Fresnel distance is the distance at which diffraction effects become significant; it is given by a2/λ. With slit width a=2 mm=2×10−3 m and wavelength λ=4000 A˚=4×10−7 m, the Fresnel distance is 10 m, so option (B) is correct.
Concept and intuition:
The Fresnel distance (or Rayleigh distance) marks the boundary between near-field (Fresnel) and far-field (Fraunhofer) diffraction. For a slit of width a, when the observation distance D is much less than a2/λ, the wavefront curvature matters (Fresnel regime). When D≫a2/λ, the wavefront is essentially planar (Fraunhofer regime). The quantity a2/λ is the characteristic distance where the phase difference across the slit becomes about 1 radian. So we simply compute that value.
Step-by-step solution:
-
Identify given quantities
Slit width: a=2 mm=2×10−3 m
Wavelength: λ=4000 A˚=4000×10−10 m=4×10−7 m
-
Recall the Fresnel distance formula
The Fresnel distance DF is defined as:
DF=λa2
- Plug in the numbers
DF=4×10−7(2×10−3)2=4×10−74×10−6=10 m
- Interpret the result This means that for distances less than about 10 m, the diffraction pattern is in the Fresnel regime; beyond 10 m, it transitions to Fraunhofer diffraction. Among the options, 10 m matches exactly.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget to convert units — especially the wavelength from angstroms to meters. Using 4000 Å as 4000 (without converting) gives a wildly wrong answer. Always convert to SI units first.
TipNotice that a2/λ grows quickly with slit width. For a 2 mm slit and visible light, the Fresnel distance is on the order of meters, not millimeters or kilometers — a useful sanity check.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
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- TG EAPCET 2023Set ap-2023-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.A block of mass ‘m’ is attached to the lower end of a spring whose upper end is fixed to a rigid support. The spring has negligible mass. When the block is slightly pulled down and released, it oscillates with a time period of 3 seconds. When the mass of the block is increased by 1 kg, the time period of oscillation becomes 5 seconds, then the value of ‘m’ in kg is (A) 43 (B) 34 (C) 916 (D) 169
›Reveal solutionSolution
The time period of a spring-mass system scales as m. Writing two equations for the two given periods and taking their ratio eliminates the spring constant, leaving a simple algebraic relation between the masses that yields m=169 kg.
The time period of a mass oscillating on a spring depends on both the mass and the stiffness of the spring. The fundamental relationship is
T=2πkm
where k is the spring constant. Notice that T∝m when k is fixed. This square-root dependence is the key: doubling the mass does not double the period; it increases it by a factor of 2.
When we change the mass but keep the same spring, we can set up two equations and eliminate the unknown spring constant by taking a ratio. That ratio will contain only the masses and periods, both of which we know (or are solving for).
Setting up the two scenarios:
- Original mass m, period T1=3 s:
3=2πkm
- Increased mass m+1 kg, period T2=5 s:
5=2πkm+1
Taking the ratio to eliminate k and 2π:
- Divide the second equation by the first:
35=2πkm2πkm+1=mm+1
- Square both sides to remove the square root:
(35)2=mm+1
925=mm+1
- Cross-multiply:
25m=9(m+1)
25m=9m+9
16m=9
m=169 kg
Verification (optional but reassuring): With m=169 kg, the new mass is m+1=169+1616=1625 kg. The ratio of masses is 9/1625/16=925, and the ratio of periods squared is (35)2=925. Perfect agreement.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) 169.
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