Interference and Diffraction

Understandings:

• Diffraction through a single-slit and around objects
• Superposition
• Path difference
• Interference patterns
• Double-slit interference

Applications and skills:

• Sketching and interpreting the superposition of pulses and waves
• Qualitatively describing the diffraction pattern formed when plane waves are incident normally on a single-slit
• Quantitatively describing double-slit interference intensity patterns ()

Guidance:

• Students will be expected to calculate the resultant of two waves or pulses both graphically and algebraically
• Students will not be expected to derive the double-slit equation
• Students should have the opportunity to observe diffraction and interference patterns arising from more than one type of wave