Diffraction and Interference

Question 1

what are the conditions for coherence

Answer 1

same wavelength and frequency and a fixed phase difference between them.

Question 2

what is laser light?

Answer 2

monochromatic
coherent
intense beam
collimated (parallel but does not spread out)

Question 3

what are 3 characteristics of light bulb sources

Answer 3

contain many wavelengths
not coherent
not collimated

Question 4

what happens if the single slit is made bigger

Answer 4

increases the amount of light going through
decreases the coherence
there will be less difference between the light and dark fringes on the interference pattern.

Question 5

what are the conditions for interference (2 sources)

Answer 5

both coherent
both the same wavelength and frequency
s/D of the same order as the wavelength

Question 6

what are the conditions for interference (1 source)

Answer 6

have a narrow single slit
distance from the single slit to double-slit should be equal to ensure coherence
s/D of the same order as the wavelength

Question 7

when n=1 what is lambda?

Answer 7

dSin(theta) = lambda

Question 8

what is the formula for the nth-order maxima

Answer 8

nlambda = dSin(theta)