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Diffraction:

the spreading out of waves (as they pass through a gap)


Constructive Interference:
When waves from coherent sources meet in phase (or path diff is n), waves
reinforce and the resultant wave has increased displacement/amplitude
Destructive Interference:
When waves from coherent sources meet in antiphase or 180 phase diff. (or path
diff is (n+1/2), waves reinforce and the resultant wave has reduced or zero
displacement/amplitude
Principle of superposition:
When two waves meet/interfere the sum of displacements (= resultant
displacement)
Coherent source:
wave sources that have a constant phase difference
Phase:

the fraction of the wave cycle which has elapsed relative to the origin
Phase denotes the particular point in the cycle of a waveform, measured as
an angle in degrees.

Phase difference:
the angle and the shape difference between the two waves

Path difference:

difference in length between paths from the sources


difference in length between detector and each wave source
difference between the actual lengths traversed by the two waves in space.

State what is meant by a standing wave and explain how it is formed.

It consists of nodes and antinodes / it does not transfer energy


formed by two identical waves travelling in opposite directions
(meeting/superposing) waves must be COHERENT
e.g. (microwaves leaving transmitter) interfere (with reflected waves)

Suggest how the appearance of the interference pattern would change if


coherent white light sources were used instead of the monochromatic
sources.

central white fringe

other fringes are colored (a spectrum is formed with blue and red ends)

Interference FAQ:

1. What is a phase shift, or phase difference?


Consider two identical waves. If the waves dont exactly line up (for instance, crest
aligned with crest in a sine wave), then there is a phase shift, or phase difference,
between them.
Phase shift can be measured in radians, degrees, or fractions of a wavelength. A
360 phase shift (same as 2 radians) is a shift of one wavelength. Since this is the
repeat distance of the wave, the waves are still aligned. 180 phase shift (same as
radians) is a shift of one-half wavelength. Now the crest of one wave lines up with
the trough of the other.
2. What does phase difference have to do with interference?
If the crests of the waves line up (phase shift of 0, , 2, etc) the resulting wave is
bigger, giving constructive interference. If a crest lines up with a trough (phase shift
of /2, 3/2, etc), there is cancellation (destructive interference)
3. Why does a difference in path length cause a phase shift between the
waves traveling those paths?
If two identical waves travel different distances to reach the same point, one will
have progressed through more (repeat distances) wavelengths than the other. If the
waves started out in phase, they will no longer be in phase at their destination.
They will be out of phase by the (fractional) number of wavelengths that fit in the
path length difference.

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