Problem Set

Wave optics
Unit-5
Diffraction:
1. What is diffraction of light? Distinguish between interference and diffraction?
2. Distinguish between Fresnel and Fraunhofer class of diffraction.
3. Explain Fraunhofer diffraction by a single slit with necessary theory. Point out also the graphical
representation of intensity distribution
4. Prove that the intensity of secondary maxima formed for Fraunhofer diffraction at a single slit are of
decreasing order.
5. Show that the intensity of the 1st secondary maxima formed by a single slit Fraunhofer diffraction
process is nearly 4.5% of the principal maxima.
6. Derive the expression of intensity at a point for Fraunhofer diffraction due to a double slit. Draw the
intensity distribution curve (diffraction pattern) and explain it.
7. Find the conditions of diffraction minima and interference maxima for Fraunhoffer diffraction.
8. What is missing order in case of double slit diffraction pattern?
9. Draw the intensity distribution for double slit Fraunhoffer diffraction pattern if the opaque space
between the slits is thrice the slit width.
10. Write down the expression for the intensity of light due to Fraunhoffer diffraction in a transmission
grating and hence find the condition for secondary minima in the interference pattern.
11. Define resolving power of a grating. What factors does it depend upon?
12. State and explain Rayleigh criterion of resolution.
Polarization:
13. What is meant by polarization of light?
14. What are positive and negative crystals?
15. Define plane of vibration and plane of polarization.
16. What is double refracting crystal?
17. What do you mean by uniaxial and biaxial crystal? Give examples. What is optic axis?
18. What is the difference between extraordinary and ordinary ray propagating through an uniaxial crystal.
19. State and explain Brewsters law.
20. What is Brewsters law? How is Brewsters angle connected to the refractive index of the medium?
Discuss the nature of polarization of the reflected and refracted rays.
21. Show that when light is incident on a transparent substance at the polarizing angle, the reflected and the
refracted rays are perpendicular to each other.
22. Write a short note on Nicol prism and its use as polarizer and analyzer.
23. State law of Malus.

Diffraction:
1. A single slit forms a diffraction pattern of Fraunhofer class with white light. The second maximum in
the pattern for red light of wavelength 7000 coincides with the third maximum of an unknown
wavelength. Calculate the unknown wavelength.
[A: 4667 ]
2. A convex lens of focal length 40 is employed to focus the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of a single slit
of 0.3 mm width. Calculate the linear distance of the first order dark band from the central band. The
wavelength of light is 589 nm.
[A: 0.7852 mm]
3. The width of each slit of a double slit is 0.15 mm and they are separated by a distance of 0.45 mm. If the
double slit produces Fraunhofer diffraction, find the angular position of the first minima and the missing
orders.
4. Deduce the missing order for a double slit Fraunhofer diffraction pattern if the slit widths are 0.16 mm
and they are 0.8 mm apart.
[A: 6th, 12th, 18th etc. interference maxima]
5. A plane transmission grating having 1500 lines/inch is being used under normal incidence of light.
i)

What is the longest wavelength of light for which a spectrum can be seen?

ii)

What is the highest order spectrum that can be seen for the light of 589.3 nm wavelength?

iii) The spectral line of 589.3 nm in the second order spectrum overlaps with another spectral line in
the next order. Find wavelength of the other spectral line.
iv) Find the expression of the dispersive power for a given order.
v)

If 90% of the width of the grating is covered, how the widths of the spectral lines are changed?

6. A parallel beam of wavelength 589 nm falls on a plane transmission grating having 4250 lines/cm. Find
the angle of diffraction for maximum intensity in first order.
[A: 14.5o]
7. Sodium light of wavelength 589 nm and 589.6 nm are made to incident normally on a grating having
500 lines/cm. Calculate the angular dispersion of these lines in the spectrum of first order. By a simple
calculation can you justify whether these lines are resolved or not?
[A: 0.001o, No]
Polarization:
8. The critical angle of glass with respect to air is 41 o. Find the refractive index of the medium and the
angle of refraction of the light incident on the glass plate at the polarizing angle.
9. The refractive index of glass plate is 1.6. Calculate the polarization angle and the corresponding angle
of the refracted ray.
[A: 57.99o, 32.01o]
10. A polarizer and an analyzer are oriented so that the maximum intensity is achieved. To what fraction of
its maximum value is the intensity reduced when the analyzer is rotated through 60 o?
[A: 0.5]
11. Unpolarized light is incident on two polarizing sheets placed on top of the other. Each sheet reduces the
intensity of unpolarized light by 50%. What must be the angle between the characteristic directions of
sheets if the intensity of the transmitted light is
(a) 1/3 of the intensity of the incident beam?
[A: 35 o]
(b) 1/3 of the maximum intensity of the transmitted beam?
[A: 55o]
12. An analyzing nicol examines two adjacent plane polarized beams A and B whose planes of polarization
are mutually perpendicular. In one position of the analyzer the beam B shows zero intensity. From this
position, a rotation of 30o shows the two beams as of equal intensity. Deduce the ratio of two intensities
of the two beams.
[A: 1/3]