Properties of light interference and light diffraction

Light waves properties

Light waves propagate in straight lines in the homogeneous medium , They reflect when they fall on a reflecting surface , They refract when they travel between two transparent media different in the optical density , according to the laws of refraction .

The light waves interfere when they have the same frequency , amplitude and phase producing regions of constructive interference and regions of destructive interference , They diffract in the same medium when they pass through a slit or by a sharp edge having dimensions near to the wavelength of the light waves .

Light interference

You can get a source of a monochromatic light to explain the light interference phenomenon , So , the wavelength has one constant value , Screen with a rectangular slit ( S ) at an appropriate distance from the light source , Screen with two narrow slits ( S1 and S2 )and screen to receive the waves .

On operating the light source , the light waves pass from the slit ( S ) in form of cylindrical waves , The double slits screen at the wave front , So , the produced waves from the double slits have the same phase ( coherent ) , The double slits screen acts as a source of two coherent waves .

Light interference

Light interference

The two waves propagates and when they reach the last screen they give :

Bright regions ( bright fringes ) when a crest from ( S1 ) meets a crests from ( S2 ) or a trough from ( S1 ) meets a trough from ( S2 ) , where the path difference between the two interfered waves is 0 , λ , 2λ , ……..or mλ , This is called constructive interference .

Dark regions ( dark fringes ) when a crest from ( S1 ) meets a trough from ( S2 ) or a trough from ( S1 ) meets a crest from ( S2 ) , where the path difference between the two interfered waves is ½ λ , 3 ⁄2λ , 5 ⁄2λ , …….. or ( m + ½ ) λ , This is called destructive interference .

Wave front is the surface which all its points have the same phase and this surface is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation , The coherent light sources are the sources that produce waves of the same frequency , amplitude and the same phase .

The distance between two successive fringes of the same kind ( bright or dark ) can be determined from the relation : Δy = λ R / d , where ( λ ) is the wavelength of the used light , ( R ) is the distance between the double slits screen and the observation screen and ( d ) is the distance between the two slits .

Conditions of interference

  1. Each of the two light sources must be monochromatic .
  2. The two light sources must be coherent have the same frequency , amplitude and phase 

The interference has two types which are constructive interference and destructive interference .

Constructive interference is interference that produces reinforcement in the intensity of the light in some regions ( bright fringes ) as a result of meaning a crest of one wave with a crest of another wave or a trough of one wave with a trough of another wave .

Condition : The path difference of the two interfered waves equals ( mλ ) , where ( m = 0 , 1 , 2 , …….or any integer ) .

Destructive interference is interference that produces weakness in the intensity of the light in some regions ( dark fringes ) as a result of meeting a crest of one wave with a trough of another wave .

Condition : The path difference of the two interfered waves equals ( m + ½ ) λ , where ( m = 0, 1 , 2 , ….. or any integer ) .

Light interference is a phenomenon of superposition of light waves produced from two coherent sources and produces reinforcement of light in some regions ( bright fringes ) and weakness in other regions ( dark fringes ) , Interference fringes is a sequence of bright and dark straight parallel regions .

Factors affect the distance between two successive fringes of the same kind
  1. The wavelength of the used light ( λ ) ( directly proportional ) .
  2. The distance between the observation screen and the double slits screen ( R ) ( directly proportional ) . 
  3. The distance between the two slits ( d ) ( Inversely proportional ) .

Light diffraction

When monochromatic light waves fall on a circular aperture on a screen , They change their direction of propagation ( diffract ) , They combine with ( superpose ) each other behind the aperture , Rings of bright and dark fringes appear on the observation screen and the central bright spot is called airy’s disk .

Light diffraction is a phenomenon of changing the direction of light waves when they pass through a small aperture leading to the superposition of light waves and formation of bright and dark fringes .

Airy’s disk is a bright circular spot formed on the observation screen when monochromatic light waves diffract through a circular aperture .

Conditions of appropriate light diffraction :

The wavelength of the light wave is comparable to the dimensions of the aperture and vice versa , From our study to the interference and diffraction phenomena , there is no big difference between them but each of them is a wave phenomenon which originates from superposition of the waves .

Types & Laws of light reflection, Regular & Irregular reflection of light

Applications on the total reflection of light ( Optical fibers , Reflecting prism & Mirage )

Light waves properties, Analysis of white light, Spectrum colours & Light intensity

Light refraction effects, Law of light refraction, Mirage & Apparent positions of objects

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