Scribd
Upload
14 views6 pages

Newton's Rings and Air Wedges Explained

The document discusses Newton's Rings, which are formed by the interference of light between a spherical plano-convex lens and a glass plate, resulting in alternating bright and dark circular fringes. It explains the appearance of these rings under different lighting conditions, including monochromatic and white light, and describes the behavior of interference fringes in cylindrical plano-convex lenses. Additionally, it provides examples of calculations related to interference patterns and thickness of films.

Uploaded by

Yovi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
14 views6 pages

Newton's Rings and Air Wedges Explained

The document discusses Newton's Rings, which are formed by the interference of light between a spherical plano-convex lens and a glass plate, resulting in alternating bright and dark circular fringes. It explains the appearance of these rings under different lighting conditions, including monochromatic and white light, and describes the behavior of interference fringes in cylindrical plano-convex lenses. Additionally, it provides examples of calculations related to interference patterns and thickness of films.

Uploaded by

Yovi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Different Air Wedges—Newton’s Rings

• Spherical Plano Convex Lens ⟷ Glass


Plate
• parallel light beam incident normally
• Lower curved surface of plano convex
lens and the top surface of the glass As due to the curvature of the lens surface, the
plate forms a thin air film. thickness of air film is not linearly varying
unlike to the case of triangular air wedge
• Due to continuous variation in path already discussed, the fringe width keep on
difference in reflected light as we decreasing as the radius of fringes increase.
move away from point of contact,
alternate bright and dark circular
fringes are obtained as shown. These
circular ring shaped fringes are called
‘Newton's Rings’.
Newton’s Rings
• Viewed from above: Reflection Side (default
choice): When viewed with monochromatic
light, Newton's rings appear as a series of
Fig.: Newton's rings seen
concentric, alternating bright and dark rings Fig.: Newton's rings
in two plano-convex
observed through a
centered at the point of contact between the Fig.: Newton's rings microscope. The
lenses with their flat
two surfaces. When the distance 2t is zero interference pattern smallest increments on
surfaces in contact. One
created by a plano- surface is slightly convex,
(lens touching optical flat) the waves interfere the superimposed scale
convex lens illuminated creating the rings. In white
are 100µm. The
destructively, hence the central region of the by 650 nm red laser illumination is from
light, the rings are
light, photographed rainbow-colored, because
pattern is dark, as shown. using a low-light
below, leading to a
the different wavelengths
bright central region.
microscope. The of each color interfere at
• Viewed from Below (Transmission side): In illumination is from different locations.
this case the central portion of the pattern is above, leading to a dark
central region.
bright, not dark, as shown.
• When viewed with white light, it forms a
concentric ring pattern of rainbow colors
because the different wavelengths of light
interfere at different thicknesses of the air layer
between the surfaces, as shown.
Different Air Wedges
• Cylindrical Plano
Convex Lens ⟷ Glass
Plate
• Like previous case if we
consider a cylindrical
plano convex lens as
shown, then the
interference fringes in
reflected light beam will
be straight but their
width will decrease as
we move away from the
contact line of the lens
with the glass plate.
Ex. Find the minimum thickness of an oil film in air that gives an interference
maxima in reflected light for wavelength 5360Å at normal incidence. Take
oil = 1.34. 10-7 m
Ex. A wedge of angle 0.5° is illuminated with sodium light whose two lines
corresponds to the wavelengths 5890Å and 5898Å. Find the distance from
the apex at which the maxima due to the two wavelengths first coincide
when observed in the reflected light. (the wedge contains air). 4.98 cm
Ex. A broad source of light of wavelength 6800Å illuminates two glass plates
120 mm long normally. These glass plates meet at one end and are separated
by a wire 0.048 mm in diameter at the other end as shown. Find the number
of bright fringes formed over the distance of 120 mm. 141

You might also like