All waves have common behavior under a number of standard situations. All waves can experience the following:

• Reflection – the change of direction of waves, due to hitting a reflective surface.
• Polarization – a wave is polarized if it can only oscillate in one direction.
• Diffraction – the circular spreading of waves that happens when the distance between waves move through an opening of equal distance.
• Interference – the superposition of two waves that come into contact with each other.

 

Light Interference in Thin Films Example                             

Ray 2 experiences a half-wavelength phase change.  For dark fringe, need 2t =   l .

Young's Double Slit Experiment                                        

Newtons ' Rings                                                                                   

Plano-convex lens on flat black surface

 

 

Posting Date:

Monday, September 25, 2006

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