Why Does Interference Still Occur with Red Light Passing Through Slits?

In summary, when a beam of red light passes through a hole created by slits, interference can occur due to the different distances traveled by the light waves from each hole. This causes variations in intensity on the screen where the light is captured. This phenomenon is explained by the concept of elementary waves, which send waves in multiple directions and interfere with each other. This is similar to the behavior of water waves in a similar experiment. The brightness on the screen is proportional to the magnitude of the amplitude of the light waves.
  • #1
primarygun
233
0
Why interference still occurs when a beam of red light passes through a hole created by the slits? The screen captures different brightness of red light.
If there are no interferences took place, the brightness should be uniform.
 
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  • #2
The effect of the slits (or holes) is to "start" the light over- the light spreads out in spheres from the two holes (with slits, think about each different plane and use circles). At each point between the two holes, the distance from each hole to that point is different- since light travels at the same speed from each hole, and starts at the same "phase" (that of the incoming light) but travels different distances, the waves will be at different phases- different places in max or min intensity. That's what causes the interference.
 
  • #3
But , there is only one hole.
 
  • #4
The one hole is a center of an elementary wave (I'm not sure about this word) (according to Huygens). Elementary wave sends waves to many directions and these waves interference with each other causing the maxs and mins.
 
  • #5
Thank you.
Only light ray has this characterisitic?
Elementary wave sends waves to many directions and these waves interference with each other causing the maxs and mins."
 
  • #6

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  • #7
The brightness is proportional to the magnitude of amplitude?
 

What is interference of light?

Interference of light refers to the phenomenon in which two or more light waves overlap and combine to form a new wave. This new wave can have different properties than the original waves, such as changes in amplitude, wavelength, or direction.

What are the types of interference of light?

The two main types of interference of light are constructive interference and destructive interference. In constructive interference, the overlapping waves reinforce each other and create a larger amplitude, while in destructive interference, the overlapping waves cancel each other out and create a smaller amplitude.

What causes interference of light?

Interference of light is caused by the superposition of two or more light waves. This occurs when the waves meet and overlap in space, resulting in the interference pattern.

What is the difference between interference of light and diffraction?

Interference of light involves the overlapping of two or more waves, while diffraction is the bending of a single wave as it passes through an opening or around an obstacle. Both phenomena can result in the formation of an interference pattern.

How is interference of light used in everyday life?

Interference of light is used in many applications, such as in LCD screens, holograms, and anti-reflective coatings on eyeglasses. It is also used in technology such as interferometers for precise measurements and in optical instruments like microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality.

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