Interference and Diffraction

Source: Yong P. Chen, PhD, Department of Physics & Astronomy, College of Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Interference and diffraction are characteristic phenomena of waves, ranging from water waves to electromagnetic waves such as light. Interference refers to the phenomenon of when...

Interference and diffraction are characteristic phenomena of all waves, from water waves to electromagnetic waves such as light.

Interference refers to the phenomenon where two waves of the same kind overlap to produce a resultant wave of greater, lower, or the same amplitude.

Diffraction is defined as the bending of a wave around th...