Interference and Diffraction

Question 1

A light with unsynchronized wave fronts

Answer 1

incoherent light

Question 2

A light from
two or more sources that add together in superposition to produce smooth wave fronts.

Answer 2

coherent light

Question 3

He proved that light has wave properties when he produced an interference pattern by shining light from a single coherent source through two slits.

Answer 3

Thomas Young

Question 4

a bright or dark band caused by beams of light that are in phase or out of phase with one another

Answer 4

interference fringes

Question 5

light of only one wavelength

Answer 5

monochromatic light

Question 6

The spectrum of colors was a result of the constructive and
destructive interference of light waves due to reflection in a thin film

Answer 6

thin-film interference

Question 7

a pattern on a screen of constructive and destructive interference of Huygens’ wavelets

Answer 7

diffraction pattern

Question 8

device made up of many single slits that diffract light and form a diffraction pattern that is an overlap of single-slit diffraction patterns

Answer 8

diffraction grating

Question 9

It is a type of diffraction grating that can be made by scratching very fine lines with a diamond point on glass that transmits light. The spaces between the scratched lines act like
slits.

Answer 9

transmission grating

Question 10

A less expensive type of grating is made by pressing a thin plastic sheet onto a glass grating. When the plastic
is pulled away, it contains an accurate imprint of the scratches

Answer 10

replica grating

Question 11

made by inscribing fine lines on metallic or
reflective glass surfaces. The color spectra produced when white light reflects off the surface of a CD or DVD is the result of this

Answer 11

Reflection gratings

Question 12

gratings that produce similar diffraction patterns, which can be analyzed in the same manner

Answer 12

Transmission and reflection gratings

Question 13

They produce the brightest spectra. They are made by using a laser and mirrors to create an interference pattern consisting of parallel bright and dark lines.

Answer 13

Holographic diffraction gratings

Question 14

An instrument used to measure light wavelengths using a diffraction grating

Answer 14

grating spectroscope

Question 15

distance between the pupil and retina

Answer 15

2 cm

Question 16

The spacing between the light detectors, the cones, in the most sensitive part of the eye

Answer 16

fovea

Question 17

consist of large numbers of slits that are very close
together and produce narrow lines that result from an overlap of the single-333333333333333333333333333333333333333slit diffraction patterns of all of the slits in the grating

Answer 17

Diffraction gratings