Interference and
Diffraction
Section one :-
Interference
Section two :-
Diffraction
Interference
Section one
Interference
– Interference is take place when light waves are combine with each other.
– If two waves with identical wavelengths interact, they combine to form a
resultant wave. This resultant wave has the same wavelength as the component
waves. The resultant wave is the consequence of the interference between the
two waves.
Double slits experiment (Thomas young)
– A source of monochromatic light (A light source that has a single wavelength ,
which means single colored)sends cylindrical waves through a slit, sending the
waves to a screen with 2 narrow slits S1 and S2.
– The interference pattern is stable or well defined at positions where
there is constructive interference between light waves of the same
wavelength.
– These slits lying on the same wave front act as 2 sources in phase
(emitting waves of the same frequency and amplitude.)
– These sources are coherent which send similar cylindrical waves on
a third screen.
– An interference of wave patterns is observed as illuminated and dark
regions called interference fringes since waves are superposed.
– For light, the result of constructive interference is light that is brighter than the light from the
contributing waves.
– In the case of destructive interference, the resultant amplitude is less than the amplitude of the
larger component wave. For light, the result of destructive interference is dimmer light or dark
spots.
Calculate the wave length of monochromatic
light using Double slits experiment
– If λ : is the wavelength of monochromatic light
– R : is the distance between the slits and the third screen
– d : is the distance between the 2 slits
– Δy : distance between 2 successive similar fringes
λ𝑅
Δy=
𝑑
– In young’s double slit experiment the separating distance between the two slits was 0.2
mm and the distance between the slits and the screen on which the fringes are formed
was 120 cm. If the distance between two successive illuminated fringes is 3 mm.
Calculate the wavelength of the monochromatic light in Angstrom.
– For two waves to produce a stable interference pattern, the phases of the individual waves must
remain unchanged relative to one another. If the crest of one wave overlaps the crest of another
wave, as in Figure (a), the two have a phase difference of 0° and are said to be in phase. If the
crest of one wave overlaps the trough of the other wave, as in Figure (b), the two waves have a
phase difference of 180° and are said to be out of phase.
– Waves are said to have when the phase difference between two waves is constant and the
waves do not shift relative to each other as time passes. Sources of such waves are said
to be coherent.
Predicting the location of interference fringes
– Consider two narrow slits that are separated by a distance d, as shown in Figure, and through which two
coherent, monochromatic light waves, l1 and l2, pass and are projected onto a screen. If the distance from
the slits to the viewing screen is very large compared with the distance between the slits, then l1 and l2 are
nearly parallel.
– l1 and l2 make the same angle, q, with the horizontal dotted lines that are perpendicular to the slits.
– The difference in the distance traveled by the two waves is called their path difference.
– the path difference between the two waves is equal to d sinϴ.
this equation, m is the order number of the fringe. The central bright fringe at q = 0 (m = 0) is
called the zeroth-order maximum, or the central maximum; the first maximum on either side
of the central maximum, which occurs when m = 1, is called the first-order maximum, and so
forth.
Home work page 531
Diffraction
Section two
Diffraction
– Light diffraction: - a change in the direction of a LIGHT wave when the wave passes through
a narrow slit or the wave interacts with an edge.
– In the shown figure found to have bright and dark fringes encircling it forming (the Airy’s
disk). As we use through a circular opening with smaller dimensions
– This is due to that light diffracts when passing through the a gap with smaller size equal or
slightly smaller than the wave length of the incident light .(this type of diffraction called
insignificant diffraction).and in this case the wave has the greatest spread out.
– In general, diffraction occurs when waves pass through small openings,
around obstacles, or by sharp edges. When a wide slit (1 mm or more)
is placed between a distant light source and a screen, the light
produces a bright rectangle with clearly marked edges on the screen.
– But if the slit is gradually narrowed , the light eventually begins to
spread out and produce a diffraction pattern, such as that shown
