Diffraction by Circular Obstacle – Rankers Physics
Topic: Wave Optics
Subtopic: Young's Double Slit Experiment

Diffraction by Circular Obstacle

Assertion (A): When tiny circular obstacle is placed in the path of light from some distance, a bright spot is seen at the centre of shadow of the obstacle.
Reason (R): Constructive interference occurs at the centre of the shadow.
(1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
(2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(3) (A) is true but (R) is false
(4) Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

Assertion (A) describes the Poisson's spot (or Arago spot) phenomenon, a classical example of diffraction where a bright spot appears in the center of the shadow of an opaque circular object. Reason (R) correctly states that this occurs due to constructive interference of light waves diffracting around the edges of the obstacle and meeting in phase at the center of the shadow. Both are true and R explains A.

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