Difraction & Interference
Difraction & Interference
Difraction & Interference
Diffraction
▪ Any type of wave can be diffracted i.e. When a wave goes past the edge of a barrier, the waves can curve around it
sound, light, water
Interference & Coherence
▪ Interference occurs when waves overlap and their resultant displacement is the sum of the displacement of
each wave
▪ This result is based on the principle of superposition and the resultant waves may be smaller or larger than
either of the two individual waves
▪ Interference of two waves can either be:
✓ In phase, causing constructive interference. The peaks and troughs line up on both waves. The resultant
wave has double the amplitude
✓ In anti-phase, causing destructive interference. The peaks on one wave line up with the troughs of the
other. The resultant wave has no amplitude
Interference & Coherence
▪ Exam questions sometime state the lines per m (or per mm,
per nm etc.) on the grating which is represented by the
symbol N
▪ a can be calculated from N using the equation
The Diffraction Grating
Angular Separation