Double slit interference with single pencil lead?

[Kern]

Hi guys,

Was trying out a home made double slit experiment as I've seen on youtube with a laser pointer and 2 pieces of pencil lead. Then I realized that I can obtain the same interference pattern with the single pencil lead.

Is this equivalent to a double slit interference?

 

[azdavesoul]

A single slit or an obstruction would create a diffraction pattern, not an interference pattern.

Here's a great site to explain the differences...

http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/lm/ch32/ch32.html

 

[dlgoff]

Here's a couple links for Diffraction and Interference.

 

[zonde]

Single slit produces interference too but it has larger scale. You can read about it in wikipedia: Single-slit diffraction

Image from wikipedia:

Another image.
http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/pics/P%20Interference/Q2-P10-Laser-Diffraction-and-Interference-still.jpg

 

[Kern]

thanks for the links! will read them up :)