Resources

Office Hours: I am available before class 11:30-12:00 MWF

and after class on Monday and Wednesday in WAT 233
and by arrangement (teb#phys.hawaii.edu).

Grader: Tommy Lam (e-mail: tommy9#hawaii.edu)

will provide feedback on homework, hints, answer
questions, and to help solve issues with Mastering
Physics

Note; 67 students now registered for Iclicker

Cloud
Start reading Chapter 36 for next week (up to 36.3 by Mon)

Today: quiz and remaining topics in Chapter 35 (Newton’s

rings, Coatings and Michelson Interferometer)

Image of Kilauea using this

Radar interferometry technique (to detect motion)
Last clicker question of the day (left over from last class)

Two sources S1 and S2 oscillating in phase emit sinusoidal

waves.
Point P is 7.3 wavelengths from source S1 and 4.6
wavelengths from source S2. As a result, at point P there is

A. constructive interference.
B. destructive interference.
C. neither constructive nor destructive
interference.
D. not enough information given to decide
Q35.2

Two sources S1 and S2 oscillating in phase emit sinusoidal

waves.
Point P is 7.3 wavelengths from source S1 and 4.6
wavelengths from source S2. As a result, at point P there is

A. constructive interference.
B. destructive interference.
C. neither constructive nor destructive
interference.
D. not enough information given to decide
What is the phase difference ?
7.3-4.6=2.7 wavelengths (not
integer or half-integer)
Q1.3

What do these pictures try to illustrate?

A. The phase shift during reflection.
B. Interference can occur when the film thickness is less than
the coherence length of the light.
C. Interference can occur when the film thickness is greater
than the coherent length of the light.
D. Intensity patterns in thin film interferences
Did you read Chapter 35 ?
Q1.3

What do these pictures try to illustrate?

A. The phase shift during reflection.

B. Interference can occur when the film thickness is less than
the coherence length of the light.
C. Interference can occur when the film thickness is greater
than the coherent length of the light.
D. Intensity patterns in thin film interference.
 Q2.2

Consider the interference

pattern from two identical
radio antennae as shown.
Based on this pattern,
determine the wavelength
of the radio wave.

A. 400 m
B. 300 m
C. 200 m
D. 100 m
E. 50 m
7
 Q2.2 m=0
m=1
Consider the interference
pattern from two identical
radio antennae as shown.
Based on this pattern,
determine the wavelength
of the radio wave.

A. 400 m
d  sin(  )  m
B. 300 m
lambda =400 m * sin(30)
C. 200 m
D. 100 m
A big slit separation but we are
using radio waves E. 50 m
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 Q2.3
For a 2-slit interference of light, the electric field at any point along
a screen is given by the sum of two electric fields, one generated by
slit 1 and one generated by slit 2.

Etot (t) = E1 (t) + E2 (t) = E cos(w t + f ) + E cos(w t)

Whatdoes
What doesthe
therelative
relativephase angle fϕ depens
phase angle dependon?on?
A. The path difference and the wavelength of light.
B. The path length difference only.
C. The wavelength only.
D. It does not depend on path length difference nor the
wavelength.

9
 Q2.3
For a 2-slit interference of light, the electric field at any point along
a screen is given by the sum of two electric fields, one generated by
slit 1 and one generated by slit 2.

Etot (t) = E1 (t) + E2 (t) = E cos(w t + f ) + E cos(w t)

Whatdoes
What doesthe
therelative
relativephase angle fϕ depens
phase angle dependon?
on?

A. The path difference and the wavelength of light.

B. The path length difference only.
C. The wavelength only.
D. It does not depend on path length difference nor the
wavelength.

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Phase shifts during reflection

na>nb nb>na
1
2t = ml (m = 0,1,2.....) Const int 2t = (m + )l (m = 0,1,2.....)
2
1
2t = (m + )l (m = 0,1,2.....) Dest. int 2t = ml (m = 0,1,2.....)
2

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 (Example from Last Time)
Suppose the two glass plates are two microscope slides 10.0 cm long. At one
end they are in contact; at the other end they are separated by a piece of paper
0.0200 mm thick. What is the spacing of interference fringes seen by
reflection ? Is the fringe at the line of contact bright or dark ? Assume
monochromatic light with a wavelength in air of λ= λ0=500 nm.
What is the phase
shift at each
interface ?
Glass to air
reflection: none
Air to Glass
2t =m λ0 By similar triangles,
t/x = h/l t=xh/l reflection : (π
phase shift) or λ/2
2(xh/l) = mλ0 l l0
x=m = m(0.100m)(500 ´10 -9 m) / (2)(0.02 ´10 -3 m) = m(1.25mm)
2h
Condition for destructive interference
12
Thin Wedge between two plates (add an extra twist)
Suppose the two glass plates are two microscope slides 10.0 cm long. At one
end they are in contact; at the other end they are separated by a piece of paper
0.0200 mm thick. What is the spacing of interference fringes seen by
reflection ? Is the fringe at the line of contact bright or dark ? Assume
monochromatic light with a wavelength in air of λ= λ0=500 nm.

What happens if there is water

(n=1.33) at the interface instead
of air ?

l = l0 / n = 500nm /1.33 = 376nm

x = mll / 2h = m(0.940mm)

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Thin Wedge between two plates (and one more)
Suppose the two glass plates are two microscope slides 10.0 cm long. At one
end they are in contact; at the other end they are separated by a piece of paper
0.0200 mm thick. What is the spacing of interference fringes seen by
reflection ? Is the fringe at the line of contact bright or dark ? Assume
monochromatic light with a wavelength in air of λ= λ0=500 nm.

What happens if there is corn

syrup (n>n_glass) at the
interface instead of water ?

Glass to syrup / syrup to glass

Phase inversion?
a) None / none
b) None / invert
c) Invert / none
d) Invert / invert
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Thin Wedge between two plates (and one more)
Suppose the two glass plates are two microscope slides 10.0 cm long. At one
end they are in contact; at the other end they are separated by a piece of paper
0.0200 mm thick. What is the spacing of interference fringes seen by
reflection ? Is the fringe at the line of contact bright or dark ? Assume
monochromatic light with a wavelength in air of λ= λ0=500 nm.

What happens if there is corn

syrup (n>n_glass) at the
interface instead of water ?

Glass to syrup / syrup glass

Reflection inversion?
a) None / none
b) None / invert
c) Invert / none
d) Invert / invert
15
Newton’s rings
• The figure below illustrates the interference rings
(called Newton’s rings) resulting from an air film
under a lens.

Perfect
16
 Using interference fringes to test a lens
• The lens to be tested
is placed on top of
the master lens. If
the two surfaces do
not match,
Newton’s rings will
appear, as in the
Figure at the right.

17
 Nonreflective coatings
• The purpose of the
nonreflecting film is to
cancel the reflected light.
Need destructive
interference !
• Optimize to kill yellow-
green wavelengths (λ=550
nm)[reduce reflection by
X4-5]
Question: Why is the condition
for the non-reflective coating Which wavelength should be used
t=λ/4 ? here ?
l0
2t = l / 2 Þ t = l / 4 l=
n
18
 Michelson interferometer
• The Michelson interferometer is used to make precise
measurements of wavelengths and very small distances.

19
 Review of Michelson interferometer
• The Michelson interferometer is used to make precise
measurements of wavelengths and very small distances.
If we move the mirror M2
forwards or backwards
by a distance λ/2, the
path length between rays
1 and 2 changes by λ.
Why ?
Path goes back and
forth
If we see m fringes cross the
view through a telescope at (4)
when we move the mirror M2 by
a distance y

l
2y
y=m Þl =
2 m
20
 Michelson interferometer (Clicker question)
• The Michelson interferometer is used to make precise
measurements of wavelengths and very small distances.
If we use 405nm laser
light, and can measure
the difference between
light and dark maxima to
2%, how fine a
displacement of M2 can
be observed?

a) 4.05 fm
b) 4.05 pm
c) 4.05 nm
d) 4.05 microns
e) 4.05 feet

21
 Michelson interferometer
• The Michelson interferometer is used to make precise
measurements of wavelengths and very small distances.
If we use 405nm laser
light, and can measure
the difference between
light and dark maxima to
2%, how fine a
displacement of M2 can
be observed?

a) 4.05 fm
l b) 4.05 pm
y=m c) 4.05 nm
2
d) 4.05 microns
405nm ´ 0.02
Dy = = 4.05nm e) 4.05 feet
2
22
 Michelson interferometer (preview of Chap 37)
• What is the Michelson-Morley experiment ?
• How did it revolutionize physics ?

Did you read the textbook, Chapter 35 ?

23
 Michelson interferometer (preview of Chap 37)
• What was the Michelson-Morley experiment ?
• How did it revolutionize physics ?
An experiment to measure
the “aether wind” or the
dependence of the speed
of light on the velocity
relative to the aether.

The speed of light is constant

in all frames of reference.
Led to special relativity 24
These were the goals for Chapter 35 (How did it go ?)

• To consider interference of waves in space

• To analyze two-source interference of
light
• To calculate the intensity of interference
patterns
• To understand interference in thin films
• To use interference to measure extremely
small distances
25
For next time
• Continue on the
homework
• Expected to read
the textbook in
advance (daily
quizzes cover
material in the
reading).

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