Wave Diffraction and

Interference
Young’s Double slit experiment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuv6hY6zsd0
Diffraction

What happens to a wave when it encounters

a narrow opening (slit)?
wave fronts
Diffraction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH0NfVUTWG4
12 Diffraction wave tank.mov
wave fronts
Diffraction
What happens to a wave when it encounters a
narrow opening (slit)?
Diffraction
What factors affect the amount of diffraction or
spreading out of the wave?
Diffraction
What factors affect the amount of diffraction or
spreading out of the wave?
Diffraction pattern
When a wave diffracts parts of it interferes with
other parts creating a diffraction pattern.
 Intensity

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/sinslitd.html
Interference and Superposition (a review)
Interference pattern (2D Superposition)
Two wave sources can interfere with each other to
make an interference pattern.

For example sound from two speakers

or

light from two narrow openings (slits) Young’s Double

slit experiment
Interference pattern (2D Superposition)

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1110/phys1110_sp01/Notes/Chap16.htm
Interference pattern (2D Superposition)
http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec13.html
Interference pattern: An explanation

Constructive: path difference =

 
Destructive: path difference =

Label: sources, d, D, s, wavelength s = fringe spacing

Interference pattern: Quantitative double slit

What happens to the pattern

(fringe spacing s) when . . .

a) the screen is moved farther?

b) the distance between the slits

is increased?

c) the wavelength is increased?

(toward red or blue?)
Example

Light with a wavelength of 500. nm is

projected through a pair of slits. The pattern
is focused on a screen 3.0 m from the slits
and shown below. Determine the spacing
between the slits.

5.0 x 10-4 m
Determine the wavelength of a He-Ne Laser
Using a double slit, determine the wavelength of a He-Ne
laser. Include uncertainty

A: 0.04 mm
B: 0.08 mm
C: 0.16 mm
D: slit width 0.04 mm, slit spacing 0.125 mm
E: slit width 0.04 mm, slit spacing 0.250 mm
F: slit width 0.08 mm, slit spacing 0.250 mm
Interference