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Answer in brief: Explain what is optical path length. How is it different from actual path length?

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Answer in brief:

Explain what is the optical path length. How is it different from actual path length?

What is Optical Path length? How is it different from the actual Path length? 

संक्षेप में उत्तर
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उत्तर १

Consider, a light wave with an angular frequency of w and a wave vector of k travelling in the x-direction through a vacuum. The phase of this wave is (kx - ωt). In a vacuum, light speed at c, but in a medium, it speeds at v.

k = `(2pi)/lambda = (2pi v)/(v lambda) = omega/v` as ω = 2πv and v = vλ, where v is the frequency of light.

If the wave travels a distance Δ x, its phase changes by Δ Φ = kΔx = ω Δx/v.

Similarly, if the wave is travelling in vacuum,

k = ω/c and Δ Φ = ω Δ x/c

Now, consider a wave travelling a distance Δ x in the medium, the phase difference generated is,

Δ Φ' = k' Δ x = ωn Δ x/c = ω Δ x'/c     ...(1)

where Δ x' = n Δ x              .....(2)

The distance nΔ x is called the optical path length of the light in the medium; it is the distance the light would have travelled in the same time t in vacuum (with the speed c).

The optical path length in a medium is the corresponding path in a vacuum that light traverses at the same time as it does in the medium.

Now, speed = `"distance"/"time"`

∴ time = `"distance"/"speed"`

∴ t = `"d"_"medium"/"v"_"medium" = "d"_"vaccum"/"v"_"vaccum"`

Hence, the optical path = `"d"_"vacuum"`

`= "v"_"vaccum"/"v"_"medium" xx "d"_"medium"`

`= "n" xx "d"_"medium"`

Thus, a distance d travelled in a medium of refractive index n introduces a path difference = nd - d = d (n - 1) over a ray travelling equal distance through vacuum.

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उत्तर २

i. When a wave travels a distance Δx through a medium having a refractive index of n, its phase changes by the same amount as it would if the wave had travelled a distance nΔx in a vacuum. 

ii. Thus, a path length of Δx in a medium of refractive index n is equivalent to a path length of nΔx in a vacuum.

iii. nΔx is called the optical path travelled by a wave.

iv. This means, the optical path through a medium is the effective path travelled by light in a vacuum to generate the same phase difference.

v. Optical path in a medium can also be defined as the corresponding path in a vacuum that the light travels at the same time as it takes in the given medium.

i.e., time = `"d"_"medium"/"v"_"medium" = "d"_"vacuum"/"v"_"vacuum"`

∴ `"d"_"vacuum" = "v"_"vacuum"/"v"_"medium" xx "d"_"medium" = "n" xx "d"_"medium"`

But `"d"_"vacuum"` = Optical path  

∴ Optical path = n × `"d"_"medium"`

Thus, a distance d travelled in a medium of refractive index n introduces a path difference = nd - d = d(n - 1) over a ray travelling an equal distance through the vacuum.  

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अध्याय 7: Wave Optics - Exercises [पृष्ठ १८४]

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बालभारती Physics [English] Standard 12 Maharashtra State Board
अध्याय 7 Wave Optics
Exercises | Q 2. v) | पृष्ठ १८४

संबंधित प्रश्न

Four light waves are represented by

(i) \[y =  a_1   \sin  \omega t\]

(ii) \[y =  a_2   \sin  \left( \omega t + \epsilon \right)\]

(iii) \[y =  a_1   \sin  2\omega t\]

(iv) \[y =  a_2   \sin  2\left( \omega t + \epsilon \right).\]

Interference fringes may be observed due to superposition of

(a) (i) and (ii)

(b) (i) and (iii)

(c) (ii) and (iv)

(d) (iii) and (iv)


A long narrow horizontal slit is paced 1 mm above a horizontal plane mirror. The interference between the light coming directly from the slit and that after reflection is seen on a screen 1.0 m away from the slit. If the mirror reflects only 64% of the light energy falling on it, what will be the ratio of the maximum to the minimum intensity in the interference pattern observed on the screen?


Answer the following question.
Describe any two characteristic features which distinguish between interference and diffraction phenomena. Derive the expression for the intensity at a point of the interference pattern in Young's double-slit experiment.


Draw a neat labelled ray diagram of the Fresnel Biprism experiment showing the region of interference. 


Describe geometry of the Young’s double slit experiment with the help of a ray diagram. What is fringe width? Obtain an expression of it. Write the conditions for constructive as well as destructive interference. 


One of Young’s double slits is covered with a glass plate as shown in figure. The position of central maximum will,


How does wavefront division provide coherent sources?


What is a bandwidth of interference pattern?


Obtain the equation for bandwidth in Young’s double slit experiment.


Two independent monochromatic sources cannot act as coherent sources, why?


The interference pattern is obtained with two coherent light sources of intensity ratio n. In the interference pattern, the ratio `("I"_"max" - "I"_"min")/("I"_"max" + "I"_"min")` will be ______


A graph is plotted between the fringe-width Z and the distance D between the slit and eye-piece, keeping other adjustment same. The correct graph is

A.
B.
C.
D.

The light waves from two independent monochromatic light sources are given by, y1 = 2 sin ωt and y2 = 3 cos ωt. Then the correct statement is ____________.


Two identical light waves having phase difference 'Φ' propagate in same direction. When they superpose, the intensity of the resultant wave is proportional to ______.


A wire of length 'L' and area of cross-section · A' is made of material of Young's modulus 'Y'. It is stretched by an amount 'x'. The work done in stretching the wire is ______.


A thin mica sheet of thickness 4 x 10-6 m and refractive index 1.5 is introduced in the path of the first wave. The wavelength of the wave used is 5000 A. The central bright maximum will shift ______.


The phenomenon of interference is based on ______.


If the two slits in Young's double slit experiment have width ratio 9 : 1, the ratio of maximum to minimum intensity in the interference pattern is ______.


In a biprism experiment, monochromatic light of wavelength (λ) is used. The distance between two coherent sources is kept constant. If the distance between slit and eyepiece (D) is varied as D1, D2, D3, and D4, the corresponding measured fringe widths are z1, z2, z3, and z4 then ______ 


In the biprism experiment, a source of monochromatic light is used for a certain distance between slit and eyepiece. When the distance between two virtual sources is changed from dA to dB, then the fringe width is changed from ZA to ZB. The ratio ZA to ZB is ______


Light waves from two coherent sources arrive at two points on a screen with a path difference of zero and λ/2. The ratio of the intensities at the points is ______ 


In Young's double slit experiment, for wavelength λ1 the nth bright fringe is obtained at a point P on the screen. Keeping the same setting, source of light is replaced by wavelength λ2 and now (n + 1)th bright fringe is obtained at the same point P on the screen. The value of n is ______.


Two coherent sources of intensities I1 and I2 produce an interference pattern on the screen. The maximum intensity in the interference pattern is ______


If we have two coherent sources S1 and S2 vibrating in phase, then for an arbitrary point P constructive interference is observed whenever the path difference is ______.


What is meant by Constructive interference?


Show graphically the intensity distribution in a single slit diffraction pattern.


In a double-slit experiment, the optical path difference between the waves coming from two coherent sources at a point P on one side of the central bright is 7.5 µm and that at a point Q on the other side of the central bright fringe and 1.8 µm. How many bright and dark fringes are observed between points P and Q if the wavelength of light used is 600 nm?


In a biprism experiment, fifth dark fringe is obtained at a point. A thin transparent film of refractive index ‘μ’ is placed in one of the interfering paths. Now 7th bright fringe is obtained at the same point. If ‘A’ is the wavelength of light used, the thickness of film is equal to ______.


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