ENGINEERING PHYSICS LAB MANUAL Dept of BH&S
EXPERIMENT-2
NEWTON’S RINGS
AIM: To observe Newton rings formed by the interface of produced by a thin air film and to
determine the radius of curvature of a Plano-convex lens.
APPARATUS: Traveling microscope, sodium vapour lamp, Plano-convex lens, plane glass
plate, magnifying lens.
FORMULA: The radius of curvature of a convex lens is given by
R= (D2 m-p –D2m ) / 4pλ
Where,
D = diameter of the fringe in m
λ = wavelength of a given monochromatic light
m & p = order of the fringe
THEORY:
The phenomenon of Newton’s rings is an illustration of the interference of light waves
reflected from the opposite surfaces of a thin film of variable thickness. The two interfering
beams, derived from a monochromatic source satisfy the coherence condition for interference.
Ring shaped fringes are produced by the air film existing between a convex surface of a long
focus Plano-convex lens and a plane of glass plate.
When a Plano-convex lens (L) of long focal length is placed on a plane glass plate (G) ,
a thin film of air I enclosed between the lower surface of the lens and upper surface of the
glass plate.(see fig 1). The thickness of the air film is very small at the point of contact and
gradually increases from the center outwards. The fringes produced are concentric circles.
With monochromatic light, bright and dark circular fringes are produced in the air film. When
viewed with the white light, the fringes are coloured.
A horizontal beam of light falls on the glass plate B at an angle of 450. The plate B
reflects a part of incident light towards the air film enclosed by the lens L and plate G. The
reflected beam (see fig 1) from the air film is viewed with a microscope. Interference takes
place and dark and bright circular fringes are produced. This is due to the interference
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SIDDARTHA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PUTTUR Prepared by P G LOGAN
ENGINEERING PHYSICS LAB MANUAL Dept of BH&S
between the light reflected at the lower surface of the lens and the upper surface of the plate
G.
For the normal incidence the optical path difference Between\ the two waves is nearly
2µt, where µ is the refractive index of the film and t is the thickness of the air film. Here an
extra phase difference π occurs for the ray which got reflected from upper surface of the plate
G because the incident beam in this reflection goes from a rarer medium to a denser medium.
Thus the conditions for constructive and destructive interference are (using µ = 1 for air)
2t=n for minima; n = 0, 1, 2, 3… … … … (1)
1
and 2t n for maxima; ; m = 0,1,2,3… … …(2)
2
Then the air film enclosed between the spherical surfaces
Of R and a plane surface glass plate, gives circular rings
Such that (see fig 2)
rn2 = (2R-t) t
Where rn is the radius of the nth order dark ring. Fig.2
th
(Note: The dark ring is the n dark ring excluding the central dark spot).
Now R is the order of 100 cm and t is at most 1 cm. Therefore R>>t. Hence (neglecting the t2
term), giving
rn2
2t
R
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SIDDARTHA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PUTTUR Prepared by P G LOGAN
ENGINEERING PHYSICS LAB MANUAL Dept of BH&S
rn2
Putting the value of “2 t” in eq (1) gives 2
R
With the help of a traveling microscope we can measure the diameter of the mth ring order
Dm
dark ring = Dn Then rn and hence,
2
Dn2 1
R
n 4
For diameter of the m+ p th ring
R = D2 (m+p) / 4(m+p) λ
Thus,
R= (D2 m-p –D2m ) / 4pλ
So if we know the wave length , we can calculate R (radius of curvature of the lens).
PROCEDURE:
1. Clean the plate G and lens L thoroughly and put the lens over the plate with the curved
surface below B making angle with G (see fig 1)
2. Switch in the monochromatic light source. This sends a parallel beam of light. This beam
of light gets reflected by plate B falls on lens L.
3. Look down vertically from above the lens and see whether the center is well illuminated.
On looking through the microscope, a spot with rings around it can be seen on properly
focusing the microscope.
4. Once good rings are in focus, rotate the eyepiece such that out of the two perpendicular
cross wires, one has its length parallel to the direction of travel of the microscope. Let
this cross wire also passes through the center of the ring system.
5. Now move the microscope to focus on a ring (say, the 20th order dark ring). On one side
of the center. Set the crosswire tangential to one ring as shown in fig 3. Note down the
microscope reading.
6. Move the microscope to make the crosswire tangential to the next ring nearer to the
center and note the reading. Continue with this purpose till you pass through the center.
Take readings for an equal number of rings on the both sides of the center.
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SIDDARTHA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PUTTUR Prepared by P G LOGAN
ENGINEERING PHYSICS LAB MANUAL Dept of BH&S
fig 3(Make fig sure that you correctly read the least count of the vernier in mm units)
OBSERVATION:
1. Least count of vernier of traveling microscope = ___________________m
2. Wave length of light = _______________________ m
Table 1: Measurement of diameter of the ring
[Link] Order of Microscope reading Diameter (D2 m-p –D2m )
the ring Left side Right side
(n) MS VS Net(m) MS VS Net(m) D(m) D2
(m2)
1 20
2 18
3 16
4 14
5 12
6 10
7 8
8 6
9 4
10 2
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SIDDARTHA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PUTTUR Prepared by P G LOGAN
ENGINEERING PHYSICS LAB MANUAL Dept of BH&S
PRECATUION:
Notice that as you go away from the central dark spot the fringe width decreases. In order to
minimize the errors in measurement of the diameter of the rings the following precautions
should be taken:
(i) The microscope should be parallel to the edge of the glass plate.
(ii) If you place the cross wire tangential to the outer side of a perpendicular ring on
one side of the central spot then the cross wire should be placed tangential to the inner
side of the same ring on the other side of the central spot.(See fig 3)
(iii) The traveling microscope should move only in one direction.
RESULT:
The radius of curvature of a given planoconvex lens is = m
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SIDDARTHA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PUTTUR Prepared by P G LOGAN