- #1
paulhunn
- 34
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I've studied Young's slits and other diffraction type experiments and so understand how a light wave can interact and constructively or destructively interfere depending on path difference etc. My question is: why is this not more obviuos is everyday life?
Say I'm looking at a cup placed on a table a few meters in front of me. I can see it because light waves are moving from the source, reflecting off the cup and into my eyes.
Now say a person shines a very powerful laser at right angles to me and the cup (in a room with no dust or other particles in the room for the laser light to reflect from) then my view of the cup will not be disturbed at all. The person with the laser could move it away from perpendicular, yet still shining across the path between me and the cup and still nothing.
Is this due to the nature of light being of more particle nature in this case?
Thanks
Paul
Say I'm looking at a cup placed on a table a few meters in front of me. I can see it because light waves are moving from the source, reflecting off the cup and into my eyes.
Now say a person shines a very powerful laser at right angles to me and the cup (in a room with no dust or other particles in the room for the laser light to reflect from) then my view of the cup will not be disturbed at all. The person with the laser could move it away from perpendicular, yet still shining across the path between me and the cup and still nothing.
Is this due to the nature of light being of more particle nature in this case?
Thanks
Paul