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Wave Optics appeared 34 times across 3 years — 3.9% of Physics. This question is from Thin Film Interference.

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A thin transparent film with refractive index 1.4, is held on circular ring of radius 1.8cm. The fluid in the film evaporates such that transmission through the film at wavelength 560 nm goes to a minimum every 12 seconds. Assuming that the film is flat on its two sides, the rate of evaporation is π × 10⁻¹³~m³ / s . [cite: 206, 207]

Numerical Answer Type:
Enter a numerical value Answer: 54 +4 marks

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

For a thin film, the condition for minimum transmission (which corresponds to maximum reflection in a non-absorbing medium) satisfies consecutive destructive wave path interference bounds [cite: 846, 847]:

Δ t = (λ)/(2μ)

The volumetric rate of evaporation from the circular boundary surface area is given by:

Rate = A · Δ ttime = (π R² · ((λ)/(2μ)))/(t)
Core Logic

Given parameters:

  • Refractive index, μ = 1.4
  • Ring radius, R = 1.8 cm = 1.8 × 10⁻² m
  • Wavelength, λ = 560 nm = 560 × 10⁻⁹ m
  • Time interval between consecutive minima, t = 12 s
  • Calculate the thickness change Δ t corresponding to consecutive transmission minima :

Δ t = (λ)/(2μ) = 560 × 10⁻⁹2 × 1.4 = 560 × 10⁻⁹2.8 = 200 × 10⁻⁹ m = 2 × 10⁻⁷ m

Now, compute the volume change over this 12-second window to find the volumetric evaporation rate :

Rate = (π · R² · Δ t)/(t) Rate = π × (1.8 × 10⁻²)² × (2 × 10⁻⁷)12 Rate = π × 3.24 × 10⁻⁴ × 2 × 10⁻⁷12 Rate = π × 6.48 × 10⁻¹¹12 = π × 0.54 × 10⁻¹¹ = 54 × 10⁻¹³ π m³/s

Comparing this to the given expression π × 10⁻¹³ m³/s identifies the coefficient[cite: 207, 843]:

Value = 54
Pattern Recognition

A minimum in transmission means maximum reflection. For thin-film interference, the optical path difference changes by exactly (λ)/(2) between consecutive fringes, which corresponds to a physical thickness change of (λ)/(2μ).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics

Reference Study Guides

More Wave Optics Previous-Year Questions — Page 3

Q49 jee_main_2026_28_january_evening YDSE Missing Wavelength
A beam of light consisting of wavelengths 650 nm and 550 nm illuminates the Young's double slits with separation of 2 mm such that the interference fringes are formed on a screen, placed at a distance of 1.2 m from the slits. The least distance of a point from the central maximum, where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide, is ____ × 10⁻⁵ m.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 429 to 429

Solution

Related Formula
y = n (λ D)/(d)
Core Logic

For bright fringes to coincide, the position y of the n₁-th maxima of λ₁ must equal the position of the n₂-th maxima of λ₂: y₁ = y₂

n₁ λ₁ (D)/(d) = n₂ λ₂ (D)/(d)
Step 1: Find Ratio of Orders

Given λ₁ = 650 nm and λ₂ = 550 nm.

(n₁)/(n₂) = (λ₂)/(λ₁) = (550)/(650) = (11)/(13)

For the least distance, we take the smallest integer values for n₁ and n₂. Thus, n₁ = 11 and n₂ = 13.

Step 2: Calculate Distance

Using n₁ = 11 for λ₁ = 650 nm:

y = 11 × (λ₁ D)/(d) y = 11 × 650 × 10⁻⁹ × 1.22 × 10⁻³ y = 11 × 650 × 1.2 × 10⁻⁶2 y = 11 × 650 × 0.6 × 10⁻⁶ y = 11 × 390 × 10⁻⁶ y = 4290 × 10⁻⁶ m y = 429 × 10⁻⁵ m
Pattern Recognition

Whenever two wavelengths are sent through YDSE, the condition for overlapping maxima is simply n₁ λ₁ = n₂ λ₂. Pick the smallest integers for n₁, n₂ to find the first coincidental fringe distance.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics

Q jee_main_2025_02_april_morning Diffraction
If the measured angular separation between the second minimum to the left of the central maximum and the third minimum to the right of the central maximum is 30circ in a single slit diffraction pattern recorded using 628~nm light, then the width of the slit is .
Numerical Answer. Answer: 6 to 6

Solution

Related Formula
a θₙ = n λ θₐₚₚᵣₒₓ = n (λ)/(a) (for small angles)
Core Logic

Let the width of the slit be a, and the light wavelength be λ = 628~nm = 628 × 10⁻⁹~m.

The second minimum (n = 2) is located at angular position:

θ₁ = (2λ)/(a)

The third minimum (n = 3) is located at angular position:

θ₂ = (3λ)/(a)

The total angular separation is 30°:

θ₁ + θ₂ = 30° = (π)/(6)~rad

Using the small-angle approximation (where θ ≈ θ):

θ₁ + θ₂ ≈ (2λ)/(a) + (3λ)/(a) = (5λ)/(a)

Equating to the given separation:

(5λ)/(a) = (π)/(6) a = (30λ)/(π)

Substitute the given values (using π ≈ 3.14):

a = 30 × 628 × 10⁻⁹~m3.14 = 30 × 200 × 10⁻⁹~m = 6 × 10⁻⁶~m = 6~μ m
Step 1: Final Conclusion

The width of the slit is 6~μ m.

Pattern Recognition

In single slit diffraction, the position of minima is a θ = n λ. The angular spread from the n₁-th minimum on one side to the n₂-th minimum on the other is (n₁ + n₂) (λ)/(a). Since π ≈ 3.14, note how 628 / 3.14 = 200, resolving to a neat integer.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics

Q1 jee_main_2025_02_april_morning Wavefronts and Huygen's Principle
A light wave is propagating with plane wave fronts of the type x+y+z = constant. The angle made by the direction of wave propagation with the x-axis is:
  • A. ⁻¹( 1√(3))
  • B. ⁻¹((2)/(3))
  • C. ⁻¹((1)/(3))
  • D. ⁻¹(√((2)/(3)))

Solution

Related Formula
²α + ²β + ²γ = 1
Core Logic

The direction of propagation of a light wave is always perpendicular to its plane wavefronts.

For wavefronts of the form x + y + z = constant, the normal vector representing the direction of wave propagation is given by:

n = i + j + k

Since the coefficients of x, y, and z are all equal, the propagation direction is symmetric with respect to all three axes:

α = β = γ

Substituting this into the direction cosine identity:

²α + ²α + ²α = 1 3 ²α = 1 α = 1√(3) α = ⁻¹( 1√(3))
Step 1: Final Conclusion

The angle made by the direction of wave propagation with the x-axis is ⁻¹( 1√(3)).

Pattern Recognition

Sees: plane wavefront Ax + By + Cz = d → propagation vector is parallel to the normal k = A i + B j + C k. Use standard direction cosines to find the angle with any axis.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics Class 12 Mathematics: Three Dimensional Geometry

Q4 jee_main_2025_03_april_evening Young's Double Slit Experiment
Width of one of the two slits in a Young's double slit interference experiment is half of the other slit. The ratio of the maximum to the minimum intensity in the interference pattern is :
  • A. (2√(2)+1):(2√(2)-1)
  • B. (3+2√(2)):(3-2√(2))
  • C. 9:1
  • D. 3:1

Solution

Related Formula

The intensity of a slit is proportional to its width:

I ∝ w

The ratio of maximum to minimum intensity in an interference pattern is given by:

II = (√(I₁) + √(I₂))²(√(I₁) - √(I₂))²
Core Logic

Let the width of the larger slit be w₂ = w and the smaller slit be w₁ = w/2. Thus:

I₂ = I₀, I₁ = (I₀)/(2) √(I₂) = √(I₀), √(I₁) = √(I₀)√(2)
Step 1: Substitute values into intensity ratio
II = (√(I₀) + √(I₀)√(2))²(√(I₀) - √(I₀)√(2))² II = (1 + 1√(2))²(1 - 1√(2))² = ( √(2) + 1√(2))²( √(2) - 1√(2))² = (√(2) + 1)²(√(2) - 1)²
Step 2: Expand the terms
II = 2 + 1 + 2√(2)2 + 1 - 2√(2) = 3 + 2√(2)3 - 2√(2)
Pattern Recognition

When dealing with fractional width ratio β = w₂/w₁, the ratio √(I₂/I₁) = √(β). The intensity ratio formula can be rewritten as (√(β)+1)² / (√(β)-1)². For β = 2, this directly resolves to (√(2)+1)²/(√(2)-1)² = (3+2√(2))/(3-2√(2)).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics

Q6 jee_main_2025_03_april_evening Interference of Light and Intensity Ratio
Two monochromatic light beams have intensities in the ratio 1:9. An interference pattern is obtained by these beams. The ratio of the intensities of maximum to minimum is :
  • A. 8:1
  • B. 9:1
  • C. 3:1
  • D. 4:1

Solution

Related Formula

The intensity limits for two overlapping coherent light sources of intensities I₁ and I₂ are:

II = ( √(I₂) + √(I₁)√(I₂) - √(I₁) )²
Core Logic

Given ratio:

(I₁)/(I₂) = (1)/(9)

If we let I₁ = I₀, then I₂ = 9I₀. Taking square roots:

√(I₁) = √(I₀), √(I₂) = 3√(I₀)
Step 1: Calculate the ratio
II = ( 3√(I₀) + √(I₀)3√(I₀) - √(I₀) )² = ( (4)/(2) )² = (2)² = 4

Thus, the ratio is 4:1.

Pattern Recognition

A classic shortcut is using amplitude ratios. If intensities are in ratio 1:9, amplitudes a₁:a₂ are in ratio 1:3.

aa = (3+1)/(3-1) = 2 ⇒ I:I = 4:1
Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Wave Optics

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JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%) | JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%)