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Chapter 5: Q16DQ (page 1180)

If we shine white light on an air wedge like that shown in Fig. 35.12, the colours that are weak in the light reflected from any point along the wedge are strong in the light transmitted through the wedge. Explain why this should be so.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The constructive interference which occurred between reflected light from the upper and lower surface of glass explains the strong colours at the transmittance.

Step by step solution

01

(a) Concept of interference.

For constructive interference, the condition for path differencedis,

d=mλ m=0,±1,=2,... ...(i)

For destructive interference, the condition for path difference is,

d=m+12λ,m=0,±1,=2,...

localid="1663910175110" d=m+12λ,m=0,±1,=2,... ...(ii)

Here, λis the wavelength of light.

02

(b) Explanation of the argument.

The reflection of light happens twice, once at the upper glass surface and once at the bottom glass surface. The constructive peaks are created out of them. Thus, showing strong coloring while they get transmitted through the wedge.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Could the Young two-slit interference experiment be performed with gamma rays? If not, why not? If so, discuss differences in the experimental design compared to the experiment with visible light.

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