Lecture 4 - Diffraction and interference Flashcards
What is interference?
When monochromatic light is split into 2 paths by a beamsplitter.
Mirrors then used to bring back the 2 paths back together
What is constructive interference?
Peak to peak
What is destructive interference?
Peak to trough
2 lights cancel out and have no light
What is an aperture?
Gap
What does diffraction depend on?
wavelength of wave compared to the aperture size
What happens when the aperture is large?
Means large light has gone through
less effects of diffraction
What happens when the aperture is small?
Small light ( wavelength) more effects of diffraction
What is diffraction
when light goes through aperture it causes bend.
The bending of the wavefront is DIFFRACTION
What are the 2 different lenses?
Convex
concave
What does the optical axis do?
splits the optical sysem in half
When is an image formed?
where image rays converge
How is it different in a negative lens?
the focal points are switched around
Where is the image formed if the rays are diverging and will not converge to meet a point
extrapolate image rays backwards
image is formed behind
IN mirrors where are the focal points?
F and F’ is at the same position
What is the radius?
the distance between surface and centre of curvature
