A problem about thin-film interference

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves thin-film interference, specifically analyzing a transparent film with a given thickness and refractive index to determine the order of interference and angles for bright light fringes using red light. The original poster expresses difficulty in matching their answers with expected results.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the order of interference and angles for constructive interference using provided equations but questions their results. Some participants suggest potential errors in the original poster's approach and question the assumptions made regarding the formulas used.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem, particularly regarding the application of the refractive index in calculations. There is a suggestion to reconsider the values of m used in the calculations and how they relate to the angles of refraction.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of a potential mistake in the textbook regarding the path difference formula, and participants are discussing the implications of this on the calculations. The original poster is uncertain about whether the angles referred to in the problem are angles of incidence or refraction.

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1. Problem Statement:

A transparent film has thickness 0.00325 cm, refractive index= 1.4. Find

a) order of interference at theta=0° and
b) the first four angles at which red light 6500 A will form bright light fringes.

Ans:[ a)-100 ; b) - 5.73°, 9.94°, 12.84°, 15.20°]
Now this question seems quite simple but my answers aren't matching no matter what way I am using, obviously I am doing something wrong. Please help me out.2. Equations used:

Path difference = 2*n*d* cos(φ)

Where φ is the angle of refraction,
n is the refractive index,
d is the thickness.

Condition for constructive interference: (2m+1)* λ/2 (since there is a 180° phase change due to reflection)
3. Attempt at a solution :

a) for order of interference i simply did
m= path difference/λ
= [2*1.4*0.0000325]/[6500 * 10^(-10)] {Converting to meters}
=140
(Now i don't know why the given answer is 100

b) well the answers I am getting are bizarre so please help me out.

I used the formula for constructive interference.

2*n*d*cos Φ = (2m +1)*λ/2
Cos Φ = [(2m +1)*λ/2]/[2*n*d]

After putting the necessary values, the values of Φ i was getting were something like
for m=0, 89.9
for m=1, 99.317
etc

(Now when they say the first four angles in the question do they mean angle of incidence or the refraction angle or what? Because the above angles were for Φ which is angle of refraction.)

(This is a question from fundamentals of optics by Jenkins and white, Chapter 14, question 14.1)
 

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a) Maybe they missed out n in the formula for path difference. That would give 100. Textbooks can make mistakes.
b) Don't start putting in m = 0, 1... For angles close to 0, cos φ ≈ 1. So look for the first value of m (descending from high m) for which cos φ < 1. If their value of 100 for part a is right (let's assume so to see where they get their answers), the first value of cos φ is 199/200, which corresponds to φ = 5.73°.
 
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mjc123 said:
a) Maybe they missed out n in the formula for path difference. That would give 100. Textbooks can make mistakes.
b) Don't start putting in m = 0, 1... For angles close to 0, cos φ ≈ 1. So look for the first value of m (descending from high m) for which cos φ < 1. If their value of 100 for part a is right (let's assume so to see where they get their answers), the first value of cos φ is 199/200, which corresponds to φ = 5.73°.
Thank you so much. I was really stuck. But we definitely need to put the n right? That must be a mistake in the book then. Thank you.
 
You either need to multiply the path length by n or divide the (vacuum) wavelength by n (which amounts to the same thing) to get the number of wavelengths (in the film) that the light travels in the film.
 

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