Young's Double Slit Experiment
Wave Optics
32
JEE Qs
3%
Hard
75
min
Master the path difference concept for various points on the screen and how it changes with setup modifications; it's the core of YDSE problems.
🧮 Key Formulas
✅ Key Points for JEE
- 1The central bright fringe (n=0) occurs where the path difference is zero, regardless of source wavelength or medium.
- 2Fringe width (β) depends on wavelength (λ), screen distance (D), and slit separation (d), but not on the order 'n' of the fringe.
- 3Introducing a thin transparent sheet in front of one slit causes a shift in the entire interference pattern, with the central maximum shifting towards the side of the sheet.
- 4If the entire YDSE apparatus is immersed in a medium of refractive index μ, the wavelength of light changes (λ/μ), causing the fringe width and positions to decrease by a factor of μ.
- 5For sustained interference, the sources must be coherent (constant phase difference) and monochromatic (single wavelength).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✕Confusing the conditions for bright and dark fringes, especially the 'n' vs 'n+1/2' factor for path difference.
- ✕Incorrectly applying the small angle approximation (tanθ ≈ sinθ ≈ θ ≈ y/D) without ensuring D >> d and D >> y.
- ✕Forgetting to account for the change in wavelength when the setup is immersed in a medium other than air/vacuum.
- ✕Miscalculating the shift of the central maximum or other fringes when a thin film is introduced.
- ✕Assuming fringe patterns are always symmetrical when modifications like film or different media are introduced on only one side.
📝 Practice Questions
See allQ34.Given below are two statements. One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A) : In Young's double slit experiment, the fringes produced by red light are closer as compared to those produced by blue light. Reason (R): The fringe width is directly proportional to the wavelength of light. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below : (1) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the (2) (A) is true but (R) is false correct explanation of (A) (3) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct (4) (A) is false but (R) is true explanation of (A)
Q41.The Young's double slit interference experiment is performed using light consisting of 480 nm and 600 nm wavelengths to form interference patterns. The least number of the bright fringes of 480 nm light that are required for the first coincidence with the bright fringes formed by 600 nm light is (1) 5 (2) 4 (3) 6 (4) 8
Q43.Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion-(A) : If Young's double slit experiment is performed in an optically denser medium than air, then the consecutive fringes come closer. Reason-(R) : The speed of light reduces in an optically denser medium than air while its frequency does not change. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below : (1) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the (2) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct correct explanation of (A) explanation of (A) (3) (A) is true but (R) is false (4) (A) is false but (R) is true
Q31.A transparent film of refractive index, 2.0 is coated on a glass slab of refractive index, 1.45. What is the minimum thickness of transparent film to be coated for the maximum transmission of Green light of wavelength 550 nm . [Assume that the light is incident nearly perpendicular to the glass surface.] (1) 137.5 nm (2) 275 nm (3) 94.8 nm (4) 68.7 nm
Q37. Using the given P −V diagram, the work done by an ideal gas along the path ABCD is : (1) 3P0 V0 (2) −4P0 V0 (3) −3P0 V0 (4) 4P0 V0
Q29.Young's double slit inteference apparatus is immersed in a liquid of refractive index 1.44. It has slit separation of 1.5 mm . The slits are illuminated by a parallel beam of light whose wavelength in air is 690 nm . The fringe-width on a screen placed behind the plane of slits at a distance of 0.72 m , will be : (1) 0.23 mm (2) 0.33 mm (3) 0.63 mm (4) 0.46 mm
NCERT Chapters
- Class 12 Physics Ch 10: Wave Optics