Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Interference and Diffraction




Consider 2 waves meeting each other in the same space. Their energies (AKA wave amplitudes) can add (or subtract). This phenomenon is called interference. If you've ever added sine waves on a calculator before, the effect is similar - and sometimes also called superposition.

Crests can add to other crests or cancel with troughs - however, it's usually some combination, depending on the waves in question. And often, beautiful "interference patterns" can result.


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