The phenomenon of Newton's rings is an interference pattern caused by the reflection of light between two surfaces - a spherical surface and an adjacent flat surface. It appears as a series of concentric, alternating light and dark rings centred at the point of contact between the two surfaces. The light rings are caused by constructive interference between the incident and reflected light rays, while the dark rings are caused by destructive interference.

The equation for Newton's rings goes as follows:

$r=\backslash sqrt\{\backslash lambda\; R\; \backslash left(\; m+\backslash frac12\; \backslash right)\}$

where

r is the radius of the light rings (to be verified),

R is the radius of curvature of the lens the light is passing through,

m is 0,1,2,3... which is dependent upon the number of light spots,

λ is the wavelength of the light passing through the glass.

The phenomenon was first described by Robert Hooke in his 1664 book Micrographia although its name derives from the physicist Isaac Newton, who was the first to analyze it.

External links

• Newton’s Ring from Eric Weisstein's World of Physics
• photos
• Explanation of and expression for Newton's rings

optics

Newtonsche Ringe | Anneau de Newton | ニュートン環 | Pierścienie Newtona