PROPERTIES of WAVES

INTERFERENCE

OUTCOMES
Comparing results Drawing conclusions Applying knowledge Considering historical perspectives;

Interference of water waves

Interference occurs when 2 circular wave fronts exit two slits in a barrier or when two beads vibrate in phase in body of water.

Do you remember? Constructive interference when a crest meets a crest or a trough meets a trough in the same medium, their amplitudes are added together to form a bigger crest or trough.

Destructive interference when a crest meets a trough, their amplitudes are subtracted. If their initial amplitudes were the same, the resultant amplitude will be zero.

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Nodal lines are lines of zero disturbance caused by destructive interference. (crest & trough)

Anti nodal lines are lines of greater disturbance caused by constructive interference. 2 crests or 2 troughs

Light is allowed to pass through two, narrow, adjacent slits and the light pattern on the screen is observed.
Constructive Destructive interference interference

Interference of light Double slit diffraction and interference

COMPARE THIS PATTERN TO THE WATER WAVES PATTERN

Single slit diffraction and interference

The diffraction grating

A diffraction grating is a component of optical devices consisting of a surface ruled with close, equidistant, and parallel lines which resolves light into spectra. The different frequencies present in the white light are each diffracted to a different degree. (amount of diffraction .) This spreads out the colours that are present in white light and a spectrum is observed.

The tracks of a compact disc act as a diffraction grating, producing a separation of the colors of white light.