Question

a) Write two points of difference between an interference pattern and a diffraction pattern.

b) (i) A ray of light incident on face AB of an equilateral glass prism, shows minimum deviation of 30°. Calculate the speed of light through the prism.

(ii) Find the angle of incidence at face AB so that the emergent ray grazes along the face AC.

Answer 1

(a) (i) The interference pattern has a number of equally spaced bright and dark bands. The diffraction pattern has a central bright maximum which is twice as wide as the other maxima. The intensity falls as we go to successive maxima away from the centre, on either side.

(ii) We calculate the interference pattern by superposing two waves originating from the two narrow slits. The diffraction pattern is a superposition of a continuous family of waves originating from each point on a single slit.

(b)

(ii) At face AC, let the angle of incidence be r₂.

For grazing ray,