Interference and Young's Double Slit Experiment
Ever wondered how scientists proved light acts like a wave? Young's double slit experiment is your answer, and it creates some seriously impressive patterns that'll make physics click into place.
Path difference is simply how much further one light wave travels compared to another. When you use coherent light sources (like lasers), the waves have identical frequency, wavelength, and a fixed phase relationship. This is why lasers are perfect for diffraction experiments - they're both coherent and monochromatic (single wavelength), creating crystal-clear interference patterns.
Here's how the magic happens: coherent light passes through two slits roughly the same size as the light's wavelength. Each slit becomes a point source, and the diffracted light creates alternating bright and dark fringes. Constructive interference occurs when waves meet in phase pathdifference=wholenumberofwavelengths, forming bright fringes. Destructive interference happens when waves are completely out of phase pathdifference=n+½λ, creating dark fringes.
The key formula you'll need is W = λD/s, where W is fringe spacing, D is distance from slit to screen, and s is slit spacing. Using white light instead of laser light gives you wider, less intense patterns with a central white fringe.
Quick Tip: Remember that smaller slit spacing creates wider fringe patterns - this inverse relationship often appears in exam questions!