Why is it difficult to determine the center of a Newton's ring pattern?

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SUMMARY

Determining the exact center of a Newton's ring pattern is challenging due to the nature of the rings themselves. The rings are not defined by a singular point at the center but rather by an extended circular area. While the diameter of the rings can be measured accurately, the small thickness of the rings complicates the precise identification of the center. This difficulty arises because the center does not present a distinct marker, making it less straightforward to locate compared to the edges of the rings.

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ft92
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can anyone please explain to me why it's not possible to determine accurately the position of a centre of a Newton's ring pattern? I know that in a Newton's ring only the distance between one side of the ring to the other i.e. the diameter can be accurately determined, not the distance from the centre of the pattern i.e. the radius. why?
 
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I would say it's because what you have in the center is not a point, instead it's an extended circle. It's not impossible to locate the exact center of this circle, it's just more difficult than locating the marker on the other side of the same ring because these rings have small thickness, hence easier to pick the center on the thickness. I hope I convey my message well.
 

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